President Tran Dai Quang and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (Source: VNA)
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 USD3.55 billion in 2017, up 31 percent from the previous year, which is expected to hit USD10 billion 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 laborers to work legally in Russia and increasing scholarships for Vietnamese students./.