Vietnam-Russia strategic dialogue in Moscow

• President Putin stresses thriving Vietnam-Russia relations
• Vietnam, Russia agree on steps to boost ties

Those in attendance also included Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh, Minister Resident of the Russian Embassy in Vietnam Vadim Bublikov, together with representatives of the two countries' Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence.

In his address, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov expressed his elation at the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership across a multitude of fields while acknowledging both sides’ efforts to maintain high-level political dialogues and close cooperation between legislative agencies, ministries, sectors and social organizations.

He praised the two countries’ coordination in the international arena as well as the growing economic and trade ties between the two nations.

Morgulov highly appreciated the outcomes of the implementation of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which helped two-way trade increase by 36% to US$5.23 billion in 2017.

Vietnam is one of Russia’s leading partners in ASEAN. Trade between Russia and Vietnam continued growing by 15% in the first quarter of 2018. The two sides have doubled efforts to intensify bilateral investment by carrying out priority projects on education, science, culture and tourism, the Russian diplomat said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (second from left)

The two countries are destined to organize a string of events marking 25 years of their signing of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Agreement. This document covers programs and activities aimed at deepening cooperation in the fields of economics, trade, science and technology, Morgulov said.

The two foreign ministries have maintained their close cooperation and the Russian side greatly valued the strategic dialogue mechanism at the ministerial level, which allows the two sides to exchange views on important issues of the bilateral and international agenda.

Deputy FM Bui Thanh Son agreed with his Russian counterpart Morgulov’s view on the strategic relations between the two countries, which he said, are growing steadily towards a higher level.
He also hailed the close cooperation between the two countries as well as the two foreign ministries on the international arena and in the global context of complex developments.

Regarding the ongoing World Cup 2018, Son congratulated Russia on its successfully hosting of the global sports event, thus raising Russia’s international profile.

At the dialogue, the two sides consented to focus their detailed discussion on preparations for Vietnamese senior leaders’ Russia visit set for later this year.