A joint statement on the results of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s official visit to Russia affirmed the consistent policy of Vietnam in strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia, in order to meet the long-term interests of their peoples, and affirmed the importance of maintaining joint efforts to promote cooperation in all areas.
Taking place ahead of big events of the two countries, including the 25th anniversary of a treaty on the basic principles for bilateral friendship in 2019 and the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between Vietnam and Russia in 2020, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to Russia is a special event that holds important historical significance for both Vietnam and Russia. The leaders’ agreement on consolidating, expanding and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia showed a deep strategic vision, meeting the long-term interests of their peoples in the new period.
During his trip, the Vietnamese Party leader held talks with President Vladimir Putin and met Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Chairman of the State Duma of Russia Vyacheslav Volodin, and Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of Russia Andrey Turchak. He laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Mausoleum, and the Statue of President Ho Chi Minh in Moscow. He also attended a ceremony to celebrate the 60th founding anniversary of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association as well as meetings with Russian veterans and experts who have worked in Vietnam, and visited Kaluga province. During the talks and meetings, leaders of the two countries discussed how to further develop the Vietnam-Russia friendship and all-round cooperation, as well as international and regional issues of their common concern. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-ranking delegation of Vietnamese officials received a warm reception, gracious hospitality and genuine friendship from Russian leaders and people. President Vladimir Putin affirmed that Russia has always held Vietnam in high regard as a leading partner in the Asia-Pacific region, expressing his confidence that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit would create an important milestone and be a new driving force for the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.
The two leaders expressed their pleasure at the comprehensive development in bilateral relations, with many fields, from political, diplomatic, economic, financial, security and defense cooperation to cultural cooperation, health care, science, education and training, industry, electricity, mining and mining, agriculture, information and telecommunications, urban transport infrastructure, tourism, cooperation between localities. The leaders of the two countries discussed measures to further develop the Vietnam-Russia friendship and all-round cooperation, as well as international and regional issues of their common concern. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Russian leaders expressed their resolve to strengthen the bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation, to match their political ties, culture and the shared potential of the two countries.
The leaders stressed the need for radical efforts to boost economic and trade cooperation, and the effective implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union as well as its member nations. They highly valued the important role played by the Vietnam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee for Economic, Commercial, Scientific and Technological Cooperation. The two sides highlighted the need to improve the effectiveness of activities of the Vietnam-Russia Senior Working Group on priority investment projects in order to develop and implement projects in the fields of industry and electrical energy; mining and mineral processing; agriculture; information and telecommunications; and urban and transport infrastructure in localities all over Vietnam.
Talking about cooperation in energy, oil and gas, a strategic sector for bilateral ties for years to come, the leaders agreed to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese and Russian firms to effectively carry out their existing projects. They said there will be more new projects with the participation of national oil and gas companies from both sides. They agreed to facilitate the operation of priority investment projects in both nations.
During the talks, the leaders of the two countries agreed that border and territorial disputes and other disputes in the Asia-Pacific region should be addressed through peaceful means, while not using or threatening to use violence on the basis of international law, to ensure peace, stability, and security in the region. They affirmed that the two countries support the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and welcome the relevant parties’ efforts to soon adopt a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.
The two leaders expressed their pleasure at the comprehensive development in bilateral relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the United Russia party that contribute to tightening the foundations of traditional friendly relations and to political trust between the two parties, the two governments and the people of the two countries while promoting cooperation and exchanges on the Party channel regarding important issues of mutual concern.
The important results achieved during the official visit to Russia by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong create a solid basis to consolidate and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, affirming the two sides’ determination on strongly promoting the relations between Vietnam and Russia in all fields, commensurate with the aspirations of the two peoples, for the benefit of the two peoples and the prosperity of the region and the world.
