Vietnam, Russia agree on steps to boost ties

• Vietnam, Russia intensify cooperation in military security

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

They lauded growing bilateral ties over the past years, especially political relationship with high trust which has laid solid foundation for sustainable and dynamic development of Vietnam – Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. 

Both sides agreed to increase all-level exchanges and improve the efficiency of existing cooperation, dialogue and consultation mechanisms, accelerate negotiations and signing of new deals to create legal foundation for all-around ties. 

Hailing the positive outcomes of the Vietnam - Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (VN-EAEU FTA), they agreed to further strive to lift two-way trade to 10 billion USD by 2020. The figure rose 31 percent annually to 3.55 billion USD in 2017. 

Host and guest promised to offer timely collaboration to deal with issues while carrying out the VN-EAEU FTA to facilitate the exchange of goods, services and investment between the two countries. 

They expressed satisfaction about extended links across national defence-security, education-training, science-technology, culture, tourism and human culture, contributing to further tightening solidarity and friendship between the two peoples. 

The two officials agreed to successfully hold the Year of Vietnam in Russia and Year of Russia in Vietnam scheduled for 2019 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of a treaty on basic principles for bilateral friendship.

Deputy PM Minh asked Russia to issue mechanisms in support of Vietnamese citizens living and working in the country who will serve as a bridge connecting the two countries. 

Discussing regional and global issues of shared concern, host and guest stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region, ensuring security, maritime and overflight safety and freedom, respecting diplomatic and legal process, peacefully settling disputes in the East Sea in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

Vietnam and Russia will continue strengthening mutual liaison at multilateral forums, the United Nations and ASEAN forums, contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world. 

The host expressed his belief that the visit would create a new driving force for bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. 

Concluding the talks, both sides signed a cooperation plan between the two foreign ministries for the 2019-2020 period, thus making active contributions to reinforcing bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

Lavrov is on an official visit to Vietnam from March 22-23.

Vietnam treasures friendship with Russia: Party chief

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong hosts a reception for Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Hanoi on March 23

The Party, State and people of Vietnam always treasure traditional friendship with and give top priority to strengthening and enhancing the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, said Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

During a reception for Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Hanoi on March 23, Party General Secretary Trong welcomed Lavrov’s official visit to Vietnam right after the Russian presidential election, hoping that under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin, Russia will continue developing strongly and affirming its important position in the international arena.

The Party chief stressed that the deepening reliable political relations between senior leaders of Vietnam and Russia is a firm foundation to further step up cooperative ties in other fields.

To reach the target of 10 billion USD in two-way trade by 2020, the two sides need to create breakthroughs in implementing the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement and well carry out prioritized tasks, focusing on cooperation projects in the fields of economy, trade, investment, oil and gas and nuclear energy, he noted.

Lavrov briefed his host about Russia’s situation, especially the results of the recent presidential election.

Vietnam is always prioritised in Russia’s foreign policy and a leading partner of Russia in the Asian-Pacific region, he said, adding that Russia always wants to witness Vietnam’s strong development and growingly important position in the region and the world as well.

The minister affirmed that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will spare no effort to accelerate the implementation of bilateral cooperation agreements in all spheres, thereby creating practical changes in relations between the two nations in the coming time.

President: Vietnam wants to beef up multifaceted ties with Russia

President Tran Dai Quang (R) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

President Tran Dai Quang hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 23 for Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during which he reiterated Vietnam’s wish to foster fruitful bilateral cooperation in all spheres.

Congratulating Russia on the successful presidential election, President Quang also asked Lavrov to convey his congratulations to President Vladimir Putin on the latter’s re-election. 

He told his guest that Vietnam always attaches importance to enhancing the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.

President Quang recalled profound impressions about his official visit to Russia in June 2017 and his meeting with Russian President Putin on the occasion of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Da Nang last November. He asked Lavrov to convey his invitation to President Putin to visit Vietnam.

While applauding the outcomes of the earlier talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Russian Minister Lavrov, the President noted with satisfaction that Vietnam-Russia reliable trusty political relations have continually been reinforced through regular meetings and mutual visits, especially high-level ones.

He expressed his delight at the growth of bilateral trade as a result of the implementation of the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement. Trade between Vietnam and Russia reached 3.55 billion USD in 2017, up 31 percent from the previous year, which is expected to hit 10 billion USD in 2020.

The two sides should actively carry out the signed agreement on cooperation in controlling the quality and safety of agro-forestry-fishery products so as to boost trade links, the President said, asking Russia to consider permitting more Vietnamese businesses to export aquatic products to the country.

President Quang also called on both sides to create favourable conditions for their oil and gas businesses to cooperate effectively within Vietnam-Russia joint ventures in the two countries.

The State leader said that Vietnam is finalising procedures to ratify a protocol amending the protocol on supporting the production of motorised transportation vehicles in Vietnam.

Vietnam is willing to assist the formation of automobile joint ventures in the country, he said, adding that Vietnam supports Russian firms to participate in new cooperation projects on energy and transport infrastructure.

The President proposed the Russian side back Vietnamese-invested projects in Russia, thus contributing to the enhancement of economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.

He expressed his hope that the two sides will continue maintaining practical and effective cooperation in defence and security in the spirit of reliable strategic partnership, while raising the efficiency of existing cooperation mechanisms in the field.

Vietnam wants to continue working with Russia in using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, he said, suggesting that the two sides soon conclude negotiations on an inter-governmental agreement on using and developing the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), aiming to enhance cooperation in information and communications as well as exploiting universal space for peaceful purposes.

Minister Lavrov said that building on the long-standing friendship between the two nations and the outcomes of visits by senior leaders, the Russia-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership has grown strongly, bringing in very positive achievements.

Briefing the host on the results of his talks with Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Lavrov said that both sides recognised the expansion of the Russia-Vietnam cooperation, especially in the field of oil and gas.

Two-way trade grew sharply after the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement took effect in 2016, he said, adding that the two sides also discussed the construction of a liquefied petroleum gas-fuelled power plant in Vietnam, as well as the modernisation of Vietnam’s railway sector.

Russia highly evaluates cooperation propsects between the two countries in defence-security and military technology, he added. 

President Quang asked the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs to closely coordinate in implementing high-level agreements reached by Vietnamese and Russian leaders in Moscow and Da Nang.

Minister Lavrov expressed his respect for the Vietnamese people’s love for Russian culture and language, which was reflected by the expanded cooperation in education-training and tourism. He affirmed the two sides will well coordinate together in organising important events to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of a treaty on basic principles for bilateral friendship in 2019.

President Quang appreciated Russia’s active participation in and effective coordination with Vietnam during the APEC Year 2017, as well as the country’s active contributions to the success of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting 2017 and the 26th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26).

He asked Russia to back Vietnam's candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 term, and hoped that the two sides will continue closely coordinating and supporting each other at multilateral forums. 

The President also suggested Russia support Vietnam in training human resources, create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to reside, work and do business in Russia, and work with Vietnam to promote culture exchanges and tourism promotion between the two nations. 

The Vietnamese leader also urged the two sides to soon begin negotiations and sign an agreement on labour cooperation, making it easier for Vietnam to send workers to Russia. 

Minister Lavrov stressed that his country is willing to create favourable conditions with special mechanisms for Vietnamese expats who are living and working in Russia. 

He reaffirmed the Russian Government’s stance to solve citizen-related issues in line with its current legal regulations, saying that Russia is ready to discuss new legal mechanisms, including those related to the sending of Vietnamese labourers to work legally in Russia and increasing scholarships for Vietnamese students.