National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) and Chairwoman of Russia’s Federal Council Valentina Ivanovna Matvienko at the event (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Cooperation among Vietnamese and Russian localities plays animportant role in the development of the comprehensive strategic partnershipbetween the two countries, as agreed by National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen ThiKim Ngan and Chairwoman of Russia’s Federal Council Valentina IvanovnaMatvienko.
Addressing aseminar on strengthening the partnership among localities of both countries in Hanoion February 22, the two top legislators noted that localities of both sideshave shared twin relations and high potential of cooperation in investment,trade, tourism, and culture.
They called forNA deputies to exert more efforts to seek measures to deal with obstacles andbarriers hindering the collaboration along localities, adding that participantsshould discuss the current situation as well as solutions to further boost theirpartnership.
The VietnameseNA leader affirmed that the outcomes of the seminar will be sent to relevantagencies of each country, enabling them to seek to make local cooperation morehectic.
She pledged thatVietnam will do its utmost to create optimal legal conditions for respective ministries,sectors, localities, organizations and businesses to forge stronger ties in allfields.
For her part,Matvienko stated that Vietnam has always been among Asia-Pacific countries withhigh GDP growth, which is a chance for Vietnam and Russia to continue expandingtheir bilateral cooperation.
The two sidesare working together for a target of 10 billion USD in two-way trade in 2020 byexploiting untapped potentials to match the sound comprehensive strategicpartnership, she said.
The Russianlegislator noted that in 2016, after the receiving the ratification of therespective parliaments, the Eurasian Economic Union-Vietnam free tradeagreement became effective, opening new opportunities for Vietnam and Russia tobeef up their trade cooperation as the Eurasian Economic Union with five membercountries is a promising market with a population of 190 million.
At the seminar,the two sides agreed that Vietnam-Russia ties have been growing fruitfully,with eventful affiliations at local level as shown in the relations betweenHanoi and Moscow, Ho Chi Minh City and Saint Petersburg and Moscow, Da Nang andYaroslavl, Khanh Hoa and Khabarovsk, Nghe An and Ulianop, and Ba Ria Vung Tauand Nenetski.
The localities’partnership, rooted from the traditional solidarity of both peoples and demandfor cooperation for mutual growth, has significantly contributed to thedevelopment of Vietnam-Russia ties, they added.
Participants atthe event, including representatives of seven Russian localities, Russiandiplomatic agencies and the Russian Business Association in Vietnam as well as12 Vietnamese localities, also held that amidst the effectiveness of theEurasian Economic Union-Vietnam free trade agreement, the two sides shouldfocus more on economic, trade and investment cooperation.
Last year, two-waytrade reached 2.7 billion USD, with total Russian FDI in Vietnam hitting about1.1 billion USD in 118 projects, ranking 23rd among 116 countriesand territories investing in Vietnam.
The twocountries should create more favourable conditions for investors of both sides,especially in areas of common strength and high demand.
The Russian sideinvited Vietnamese localities to join the Orient Economic Eastern EconomicForum in Vladivostok in this September.
The two sidesalso concurred to form a local working group with the participation oflocalities of both sides, with its meeting held in turn in Vietnam and Russia,aiming to make cooperation among localities more practical and effective.-VNA
VNA
