President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) meets Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Moscow, Russia, December 1, 2021 - Photo: VNA

Nguyen, who is on an official visit to Russia from November 29-December 2, affirmed the Party and State of Viet Nam always keep in mind Russia’s assistance for Viet Nam in the past and at present, and attach importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.

Both sides focused their discussion on cooperation between the two countries in areas, especially economics, expressing their delight at the continued expansion in bilateral trade and investment cooperation despite impacts of COVID-19.

The two sides agreed to facilitate bilateral trade by utilizing opportunities arisen from the free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union formed by Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and encouraging the implementation of large investment projects in such areas as industry, agriculture and infrastructure.

They pledged to maintain and boost cooperation in energy and oil and gas in Viet Nam and Russia–one of the key pillars in the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership as well as reached consensus on orientations and measures to boost collaboration in the fields of education-training, science-technology, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange.

They consented to enhance cooperation in COVID-19 vaccine and drug production.

PM Mishustin affirmed the Russian Government attaches importance to and expects to strengthen cooperation with Viet Nam, adding that Russia will closely coordinate with the Vietnamese side to carry out effectively agreements reached between Presidents Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Vladimir Putin.

Nguyen took the occasion to convey Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s invitation to Prime Minister Mishustin to visit Viet Nam.

* The same day, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc met Chairman of the State Duma of Russia Vyacheslav Volodin and Chair of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia Valentina Matviyenko and attended Viet Nam-Russia Business Forum.