VGP – Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Viet Nam-Russia relations are “undoubtedly strategic in nature” based on traditions of friendship and unanimity of views on a great many issues.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Russian President Vladimir Putin
at Kremlin Palace in Moscow on May 22, 2019. Photo: VGP

Putin made the above statement at his meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Moscow on Wednesday afternoon.

Bilateral trade is growing and both sides are expanding economic and political cooperation and coordinating efforts in the international arena, said the Russian President.

Meanwhile, PM Phuc, who is on official visit to Russia from May 20-23, affirmed that Viet Nam always attaches importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.

Phuc also affirmed Russia is Viet Nam’s reliable defense-security partner, thus the two sides agreed to step up collaboration in this area at bilateral and multilateral frameworks for mutual benefits and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

The two leaders spoke highly of the outcomes of bilateral trade cooperation since the Viet Nam-Eurasian Economic Union took effect in 2016 and vowed to raise the two-way trade value to US$10 billion by 2020.

They underlined the importance of energy cooperation and agreed to encourage and facilitate operation of their businesses in respective countries.

The pair also discussed on a wide range of regional and international issues of common concerns. President Putin  voiced support for settlement of disputes in the East Sea through peaceful measure in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, for full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and for early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

On the occasion, PM Phuc conveyed Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong’s invitation to President Putin to visit Viet Nam and President Putin gladly accepted the invitation./.