President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc wraps up visit to Russia
President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and his wife met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Russia on Thursday (local time) as part of his official visit.
During the meeting, the President expressed his joy at how the Vietnamese community in Russia overcome the most difficult period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He highly appreciated the support and contributions from Overseas Vietnamese (OVS) in Russia for people in the homeland amid the health crisis.
The President also acknowledged their recommendations and promised to make decisions in order to facilitate their return to Việt Nam in the new situation.
He suggested Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Đặng Minh Khôi take measures to take better care of the community amid difficulties caused by the pandemic, expressing his belief that the Vietnamese community in Russia will continue to maintain valuable traditions of the Vietnamese people.
On the occasion, President Phúc witnessed the hand-over ceremony of symbolic keys of three UAZ vehicles as the gift of the Association of Vietnamese People in Russia to the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence to serve rescue work.
Phúc’s visit to Russia will create a new impulse to lift the bilateral relations between the two countries to new heights, saying that the strengthening of Việt Nam-russia relations plays a very important role in facilitate the operation of the Vietnamese community in Russia.
There are about 80,000 Vietnamese people living, studying and working in Russia. They have stable lives with increasing legal and social status. In the last two years, despite many difficulties and losses due to COVID-19, the community has made great efforts to overcome difficulties and donated to help flood victims and those affected by COVID-19 in the homeland.
Meeting business leaders
Also on Thursday, President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc hosted receptions for leaders of big Russian companies which have business ties in Việt Nam, including the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Gazprom, Novatek, Sistema and Miratorg, as part of his visit to Russia.
During the meetings, the Vietnamese President praised the strength of Russian enterprises and investors. He said Việt Nam, with one of the highest economic growth rates and largest amount of foreign investment attracted in the region, has always created favourable conditions for foreign investors, including those from Russia.
He expressed a wish that Russian businesses expand their investment in and cooperation with Việt Nam so as to tap the potential and strength of both countries and meet their needs, contributing to promoting the bilateral strategic partnership.
Meeting with CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev, President Phúc appreciated the fund’s contribution to the successful research and production of Sputnik V and Sputnik Light, the first COVID-19 vaccines in the world. He welcomed the cooperation between the fund and Vietnamese partners in transferring production technology for COVID-19 vaccines and drugs, and asked the fund to help Việt Nam access Russia’s vaccines and treatment drugs.
Talking to the chairman of Sistema, Vladimir Yevtushenkov, the President welcomed the group for cooperating with Việt Nam in the supply of vaccines, treatment drugs and medical supplies, as well as in building a factory for the production of vaccines and drugs in Hải Phòng City. He asked the group to work with Việt Nam in agriculture and forestry, in which both countries have potential.
Meeting with deputy chairwoman of the Gazprom Management Committee Elena Burmistrova, the Vietnamese President affirmed that oil and gas and energy are among pillars of the Việt Nam-russia comprehensive strategic partnership. He pledged to create favourable conditions for Gazprom to expand its investment in Việt Nam to new fields of both sides’ potential and needs, such as gas-fuelled power, and fuel for transport.
Phúc thanked Novatek group for giving Việt Nam vaccines, and welcomed the cooperative deal inked between Novatek and Việt Nam’s Pvpower. He affirmed that Viet Nam is ready to facilitate the participation of foreign investors, including Novatek, in energy and oil and gas projects in Việt Nam.
At the meeting with President of Miratorg Victor Linnik, the Vietnamese State leader applauded agricultural cooperation between Việt Nam and Russia and the fact that Russia has become the second largest exporter of meat to Việt Nam. He welcomed the group’s proposal on expanding the bilateral partnership in agriculture.
Leaders of the Russian companies highlighted the potential of the Vietnamese market for investment and cooperation. They affirmed that their companies would continue to join hands with Vietnamese partners to implement signed projects and deals while considering the prospect of expanding their operations in Việt Nam.
Later the same day, the Vietnamese President left the Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow for home, successfully ending his four-day official visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.