Vietnam boosts external relations with Russia

During a working session with Deputy Chairman of Russia’s State Duma Committee on Foreign Affairs Anatoly Karpov in Moscow on March 21, the two sides expressed their pleasure at the growing friendship and cooperation in various fields, especially in economics, trade and investment.

The Vietnamese and Russian legislatures have closely worked together at international forums and are expected to hold more regular delegation exchanges at all levels to increase mutual understanding and create a firm foundation to propel the two nations’ relations forward.

Currently, two-way trade is estimated at about US$3 billion. To realize the goal of US$10 billion in 2020, the two sides agreed to accelerate the ratification and implementation of agreements signed by their top leaders. 

The Russian side affirmed they will facilitate the bilateral collaboration in oil and gas and energy, as well as enable Vietnamese businesses to export farm produce and seafood to the market, particularly when the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union has come into force.

The Vietnamese official proposed Russia relax tourism visa for Vietnamese citizens and support overseas Vietnamese in the host society.

The same day, Tien had a working session with Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee in charge of culture and education Aleksandr Volkov, during which he expressed his confidence in the thriving cooperation between the two countries’ parliaments and localities in the coming time.

For his part, Volkov highly valued the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership and believed that the bilateral relations will reap more accomplishments in the future based on the mutual political trust nurtured by the two countries’ leaders.

Earlier, the Vietnamese delegation met with the Vietnamese Embassy and business community in Russia. 

The delegation is paying an official visit to Switzerland.