Vietnam, Russia resolved to intensify comprehensive strategic ties Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev emphasised the resolve to enhance the countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership during their talks in Moscow on May 16.   Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev The talks, also attended by the countries’ senior officials, took place following the welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese leader at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow. Russian PM Medvedev congratulated the Communist Party of Vietnam on successfully organising the 12th National Congress, which set up important guidelines and orientations for Vietnam’s development in the next few years. He welcomed the first Russia visit by Nguyen Xuan Phuc in capacity as the Vietnamese Government leader, adding that his country has continually considered Vietnam one of its top Asian-Pacific partners. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke highly of Russia’s modernisation and development attainments and its growing stature in the world. He stressed Vietnam’s consistent policy of promoting the traditional amity and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia. Expressing the delight at their countries’ growing political trust, the PMs agreed to continue all-level delegation exchanges and existing dialogue and consultation mechanisms. They agreed to make concerted efforts to shore up bilateral trade through synchronous measures such as creating favourable conditions for trade activities, fostering trade promotion events, boosting payment by using their domestic currencies, and capitalising on the Vietnam – Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement, of which Russia is a member, and other free trade agreements that Vietnam has joined in. The leaders applauded Vietnamese and Russian ministries’ activeness in implementing cooperation projects in energy, oil and gas, mining and agriculture. Amid domestic and global economic difficulties, both sides concurred in supporting the oil and gas joint ventures in each country, strengthen collaboration in other areas such as petroleum refining and chemistry and liquefied gas production, and expanding their partnerships in other nations.   Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc  They affirmed the continuation of close and effective cooperation in defence – security, particularly in military technique. They were unanimous in reinforcing affiliation in other potential aspects like science – technology, education – training, culture, tourism, labour, and between localities, bringing those connections on par with the countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc thanked Russia’s central and local authorities for providing optimal conditions for Vietnamese people, adding that the Vietnamese community will continue actively contributing to the two nations’ friendship and cooperation. At the talks, the two Government leaders mulled over some international and regional issues of mutual concern. They agreed to work more closely at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Asia-Europe Meeting, and ASEAN. The Vietnamese side also voiced the belief in the success of the ASEAN – Russia Summit to be held in Russia. The event, which marks the 20th founding anniversary of their dialogue relationship, will bring ASEAN – Russia relations to a new height. With regard to recent complex developments in the East Sea, the PMs shared the view that disputes in the waters need to be solved through peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and efforts to push for a code of conduct in the waters. They said they believe that the Vietnamese PM’s official visit to Russia will create a new momentum for the two countries’ all-round cooperation. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc offered the invitation to visit Vietnam to Dmitry Medvedev, who accepted with pleasure. After talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation agreements between the two countries’ economic groups operating in the fields of oil and gas, investment, and cadres training. They later co-chaired an international press conference to affirm the two governments’ standpoints on strengthening bilateral cooperation in a more effective and pragmatic manner. The Russian PM spoke highly of the official visit to Russia by his Vietnamese counterpart and described it as a symbol of the two nations’ trust and comprehensive strategic partnership. He said Russia is willing to cooperate with Vietnam in various fields such as telecommunications, banking, automobile assembly, finance, machine manufacturing, shipbuilding, mineral mining and agriculture. The two countries have advantages to boost major investment projects, he said, suggesting the pair attach more importance to exchanging farm produce.   Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev For his part, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc highly valued the long-standing and close-knit rapport between Vietnamese and Russian people. He noted that during the bilateral talks both sides discussed in the spirit of comprehensive strategic partnership and agreed to increase two-way trade – which is standing at US$4 billion, via the exchange of goods that are of respective strengths.  The two government leaders also concurred to pushing ahead with cooperation programmes and projects in energy, oil and gas, breeding and farm produce, he said. The two PMs said they agreed to prepare for the implementation of the free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which is expected to take effect soon and bring enormous opportunities for both nations to expand trade cooperation. They agreed to expand coordination across fields of their potential, particularly tourism, services and advanced technology. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc said Vietnam has signed a number of trade agreements with countries and territories around the world. Vietnam and Russia have established a comprehensive strategic partnership, so the two sides will boost and diversify their cooperation across the board to match their respective potential and meet the expectations of the two countries’ governments and people. VNA