Việt Nam, Russia to maintain, expand energy projects
President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc had a meeting with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow on Wednesday (local time) as part of his ongoing official visit to Russia.
The President affirmed the Party and State of Việt Nam always keep in mind Russia’s assistance for Việt Nam in the past and at present, and attach importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia. Việt Nam considers Russia a leading priority partner in its foreign policy, he said, while expressing his delight at achievements Russia has obtained in recent times.
The officials focused their discussions on cooperation between the two countries, especially in economics, while expressing their pleasure with the continued expansion in bilateral trade and investment cooperation despite impacts of COVID-19.
The two sides agreed to facilitate bilateral trade, including making the most of the Việt Nam and the Asia-europe Economic Union free trade agreement, and encouraging the implementation of large investment projects in areas of strength such as industry, agriculture and infrastructure.
They affirmed determination to maintain and expand cooperation in energy and oil and gas – one of the key pillars in the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership.
President Phúc and PM Mishustin reached a consensus on orientations and measures to boost collaboration in the fields of education-training, science-technology, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange. They agreed to enhance cooperation in COVID-19 vaccine and drug production. PM Mishustin affirmed the Russian Government treasures and wishes to strengthen cooperation with Việt Nam and will closely coordinate with the Vietnamese Government, particularly within the framework of theviệt Nam-russia Intergovernmental Committee for Economic-commercial and Scientific-technological Cooperation, to carry out agreements reached between President Phúc and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Meeting with Speaker
President Phúc met with Valentina Matvienko, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly
of the Russian Federation, the same day. He said Việt Nam always considers Russia a priority in its foreign policy and supports Russia to have a greater role and voice in the region and the world.
Matvienko stressed that President Phúc’s visit will create a new motivation to boost bilateral ties in the context that the two countries are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership (2001-21) and preparing for the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2012-22).
Both leaders appreciated the positive development of bilateral relations, especially in the fields of politics, trade, economy, investment, defence and security, energy, education and science, despite serious impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President welcomed the close coordination between the National Assembly (NA) of Việt Nam and the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation at international and regional forums, affirming that Việt Nam continues to support and actively participate in international initiatives initiated by the Federation Council for the common interests of the two countries, thus contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world.
Matvienko stressed the Federation Council always backs strengthening relations with Việt Nam and continues to work closely with the Vietnamese NA to speed up the implementation of cooperation agreements and projects, including those reached between President Phúc and President Vladimir Putin.
Increasing trade
President Phúc asked ministries, agencies and businesses of Việt Nam and Russia to seek ways to lift two-way trade by 15 times from the current US$5 billion and tripling investment in the near future.
Addressing the Việt Nam-russia Business Forum that drew 80 firms from both sides in Moscow on Wednesday, President Phúc suggested Russian firms study more about the Vietnamese market and vice versa to achieve better results and reach bilateral trade levels commensurate with the traditional, profound relations between the two countries.
He affirmed that Việt Nam will try to build stable and predictable policy and institutions, adding that he requested Vietnamese localities and ministries, especially the Ministry of Planning and Investment, to coordinate effectively to attract capital flows and formulate ideas to create momentum in trade and investment.
As room for bilateral economic cooperation remains large, trust in political, diplomatic and economic ties will open up new chapters in the near future, he said, adding that the two countries’ authorities need to work closely together to deal with existing obstacles.
President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin, for his part, said Russian and Vietnamese firms need to capitalise on advantages from the
Free Trade Agreement between Việt Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union, adding Russian companies are interested in investing in Việt Nam. Entrepreneurs expressed their willingness to invest in each other on the back of the two nations' long-standing ties as well as opportunities and incentives offered by each country. A new direct route between Việt Nam and Moscow, Russia, conducted by Vietjet was also announced at the forum, along with several other deals, including a tripartite agreement between Hdbank and the International Chess Federation and Việt Nam Chess Federation on 10-year support for the World Ches Championship.
Bolstering cooperation
Also on Wednesday, President Phúc met with Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia and Chairman of the ruling United Russia party.
Welcoming Phúc’s visit, Medvedev said that the visit will open up a new stage of the stronger and more comprehensive and effective development of the Việt Nam-russia comprehensive strategic partnership. He affirmed the Security Council of Russia will continue backing and promoting bilateral cooperation in all fields.
The two sides expressed their satisfaction at a high level of trust in the bilateral political relationship, which is a basis for strengthening cooperation and achieving positive results in strategic fields such as defence, security, energy and oil and gas. They agreed to further promote the bilateral cooperation in all fields, including cooperation between Việt Nam’s Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Public Security and the Security Council of Russia, which will contribute to firmly ensuring independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country, and for peace, cooperation and development in the region and in the world.
The two leaders appreciated the close and reliable cooperation between the Communist Party of Việt Nam and United Russia, with regular delegation exchanges and meetings maintained within both bilateral and multilateral frameworks. They affirmed that collaboration between the two parties plays an important role in the comprehensive strategic partnership between Việt Nam and Russia, and welcomed the signing of the two parties’ cooperation plan for 2022-24.
Defence ministers hold talks
Minister of National Defence General Phan Văn Giang spoke with Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu in Moscow as part of the President official visit to Russia.
Giang hailed Russia as a major country that plays an important role in world peace and stability. He said Việt Nam welcomes Russia’s peaceful contributions to Asia-pacific, and Southeast Asia in particular. Shoigu, for his part, thanked the Vietnamese Defence Ministry for successfully holding competitions within the framework of the International Military Games 2021, sending a high-ranking delegation to international multilateral activities hosted by the Russian Defence Ministry, vessels from the Việt Nam People’s Navy to a naval parade and the Sea Cup competition as part of the Games.
Both sides agreed to focus on facilitating all-level visits, maintaining strategic defence dialogue mechanisms at the deputy ministerial level, training quality personnel, supporting and joining international multilateral activities hosted by the two defence ministries, and sharing experience in military technology.