State President: Vietnam, Russia enhance cooperation in economics, defense Viet Nam and Russia need to synchronously launch cooperation in all fields, especially in advantageous areas to support respective development, State President Tran Dai Quang said during a recent interview with Russian news agency TASS.   State President Tran Dai Quang The State President highlighted developments in Viet Nam-Russia relationship over the past 65 years, especially when the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) -Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement comes into effect, saying these will create forces for enhancing economics and trade between the two sides. He noted that cooperation in energy, oil and gas maintains a pillar in the two nations’ economic cooperation. State President Tran Dai Quang spoke of the outcomes of 20 years of the ASEAN – Russia dialogue partnership, saying Viet Nam highly values Russia’s role in building a sustainable regional structure. He hopes that Russia will continue be a responsible world power through ASEAN – Russia cooperation mechanisms. The East European nation should continue supporting ASEAN to increase its stronger role in regional issues, improve the effectiveness of dialogue mechanisms, and help resolve security challenges in the region. As an ASEAN member and a comprehensive strategic partner of Russia, Viet Nam remains a bridge between ASEAN and Russia. The growth of the ASEAN – Russia partnership will raise the role of Viet Nam and Russia in Southeast Asia as well as Asia – Pacific, contributing to peace, stability and development around the globe. He stressed the two nations’ cooperation in national defense, suggesting the two sides enhance cooperation in national defense and military technology as well as maintain regular and effective activities of the Viet Nam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee for Military Technical Cooperation and delegation exchanges. In term of tourism, he referred to the number of Russian tourists to Viet Nam increasing from 100,000 ones to 400,000 ones in the 2011-2015 phase. Viet Nam is renewing and improving its tourism service quality, he said, expressing his hope that the development in tourism between the two sides will become a connection to strengthen mutual understanding and consolidate the two nations’ relations. VGP