Hanoi (VNA) – President Tran Dai Quanghosted a reception in Hanoi on March 23 for Russian Foreign Minister SergeyLavrov, during which he reiterated Vietnam’s wish to foster fruitful bilateralcooperation in all spheres.

Congratulating Russia on the successfulpresidential election, President Quang also asked Lavrov to convey his congratulationsto President Vladimir Putin on the latter’s re-election. 

He told his guest that Vietnam always attachesimportance to enhancing the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.

President Quang recalled profound impressions about his official visit toRussia in June 2017 and his meeting with Russian President Putin on theoccasion of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Da Nang last November. He asked Lavrov to convey his invitation to PresidentPutin to visit Vietnam.

While applauding the outcomes of the earliertalks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh andRussian Minister Lavrov, the President noted with satisfaction that Vietnam-Russiareliable trusty political relations have continually been reinforced throughregular meetings and mutual visits, especially high-level ones.

He expressed his delight at the growth of bilateraltrade as a result of the implementation of the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic UnionFree Trade Agreement. Trade between Vietnam and Russia reached 3.55 billion USDin 2017, up 31 percent from the previous year, which is expected to hit 10billion USD in 2020.

The two sides should actively carry out thesigned agreement on cooperation in controlling the quality and safety ofagro-forestry-fishery products so as to boost trade links, the President said,asking Russia to consider permitting more Vietnamese businesses to exportaquatic products to the country.

President Quang also called on both sides tocreate favourable conditions for their oil and gas businesses to cooperateeffectively within Vietnam-Russia joint ventures in the two countries.

The State leader said that Vietnam is finalising procedures to ratify aprotocol amending the protocol on supporting the production of motorisedtransportation vehicles in Vietnam.

Vietnam is willing to assist the formation of automobile joint venturesin the country, he said, adding that Vietnam supports Russian firms to participatein new cooperation projects on energy and transport infrastructure.

The President proposed the Russian side back Vietnamese-investedprojects in Russia, thus contributing to the enhancement of economic, trade andinvestment cooperation between the two countries.

He expressed his hope that the two sides will continue maintainingpractical and effective cooperation in defence and security in the spirit ofreliable strategic partnership, while raising the efficiency of existingcooperation mechanisms in the field.

Vietnam wants to continue working with Russia in using nuclear energyfor peaceful purposes, he said, suggesting that the two sides soon concludenegotiations on an inter-governmental agreement on using and developing theGlobal Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), aiming to enhance cooperation ininformation and communications as well as exploiting universal space forpeaceful purposes.

Minister Lavrov said that building on the long-standing friendshipbetween the two nations and the outcomes of visits by senior leaders, theRussia-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership has grown strongly, bringingin very positive achievements.

Briefing the host on the results of his talks with Deputy PM and ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh, Lavrov said that both sides recognised the expansionof the Russia-Vietnam cooperation, especially in the field of oil and gas.

Two-way trade grew sharply after the Vietnam-EurasianEconomic Union Free Trade Agreement took effect in 2016, he said, adding that thetwo sides also discussed the construction of a liquefied petroleum gas-fuelledpower plant in Vietnam, as well as the modernisation of Vietnam’s railway sector.

Russia highly evaluatescooperation propsects between the two countries in defence-security and militarytechnology, he added.

President Quang asked the two Ministriesof Foreign Affairs to closely coordinate in implementing high-level agreements reachedby Vietnamese and Russian leaders in Moscow and Da Nang.

Minister Lavrov expressed his respectfor the Vietnamese people’s love for Russian culture and language, which wasreflected by the expanded cooperation in education-training and tourism. He affirmedthe two sides will well coordinate together in organising important events tomark the 25th anniversary of the signing of a treatyon basic principles for bilateral friendship in 2019.

President Quang appreciated Russia’s active participation in and effectivecoordination with Vietnam during the APEC Year 2017, as well as the country’sactive contributions to the success of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting 2017and the 26th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26).

He asked Russia to back Vietnam's candidacy for anon-permanent seat in the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 term,and hoped that the twosides will continue closely coordinating and supporting each other atmultilateral forums.

The President alsosuggested Russia support Vietnam in training human resources, create favourableconditions for the Vietnamese community to reside, work and do business inRussia, and work with Vietnam to promote culture exchanges and tourismpromotion between the two nations.

The Vietnamese leader also urged the two sides to soon begin negotiations andsign an agreement on labour cooperation, making it easier for Vietnam to sendworkers to Russia.

Minister Lavrov stressed that his country is willing to create favourable conditionswith special mechanisms for Vietnamese expats who are living and working inRussia.

He reaffirmed the Russian Government’s stance to solve citizen-related issuesin line with its current legal regulations, saying that Russia is ready to discussnew legal mechanisms, including those related to the sending of Vietnameselabourers to work legally in Russia and increasing scholarships for Vietnamesestudents.-VNA