Hanoi (VNA) –⛦ The Vietnam-Russia parliamentary relations have enjoyed positiveprogress over the recent past, Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen ThiKim Ngan said on November 27.

She made the remarkwhile hosting a reception in Hanoi for outgoing Russian Ambassador to Vietnam KonstantinVnukov and spoke highly of the diplomat’s contributions to strengthening theVietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. Ngan also sent herregards and gratitude to Chairwoman of the Federation Council V. Matviyenko andChairman of the State Duma V. Volodin for receiving a high-ranking delegationof the Vietnamese NA during its Russia visit last December. She noted that the exchangeof parliamentary delegations has been maintained, thereby fosteringcollaboration and sharing of information and legislative experience, andraising the efficiency of each country’s assembly operations, as well as theimplementation of bilateral cooperation deals. Ngan pointed out thateconomic cooperation has made strides in the recent past, with two-way trade surgingto 4.5 billion USD last year from 2.5 billion USD in 2014. Bilateral trademaintains growth despite the impact of COVID-19, she emphasised. The leader affirmed that theVietnamese NA is always in favour of promoting the multifaceted relations withRussia in the spirit of the comprehensive strategic partnership, pledging that Vietnam’sNA and Russia’s State Duma will maintain and foster sessions of the Inter-ParliamentaryCooperation Commission in an effort to turn it into an effective cooperationchannel between the countries. As the Chair of ASEANand the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2020, Vietnam continues tosupport and push ahead the ASEAN-Russia strategic partnership, Ngan said,voicing her gratitude for the Russian President and leaders for working withVietnam to fulfill it role as the ASEAN Chair, a non-permanent member of the UNSecurity Council for 2020-21 and the AIPA Chair. She hoped that the twonations will keep up close cooperation in carrying out foreign policies and handling respective issues in tandem with common interests. For his part, Vnukovsaid members of both houses of the Russian Assembly have paid attention to andsupported sound cooperation with Vietnam. The Russian side ispreparing for an official Vietnam visit by Chairman of the State Duma Volodin,in which he is to attend the second meeting of the Vietnam-RussiaInter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee slated for next year, the diplomatsaid. He took the occasionto congratulate Vietnam for successfully fulfilling its role as the Chair of ASEANand AIPA 41 amid complexities brought by COVID-19, confirming that ASEAN is atrusted and prioritised partner of Russia in Asia-Pacific. Vietnam is a rolemodel in COVID-19 prevention and control, he underlined, adding that Russiawill send a delegation of doctors to work with Vietnam in tackling the disease. He also vowed tofurther contribute to the bilateral ties in his future position./.