Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed ways to beef up bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries, over the phone on Friday afternoon. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov co-chair a press briefing following their talks in Ha Noi in 2014. Photo: VGP

Both sides expresed their pleasure at the practical advancements of the Viet Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership and agreed to work closely together to prepare for high-level diplomatic activities in the coming time.

Minh highly valued the role, position and contributions of Russia at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), expressing thanks to its valuable support , especially when Viet Nam undertook the role as the UNSC Presidency in January this year.

He called on the UNSC member countries to find common voices, especially during the hard times, in order to contribute to maintaining a global environment of peace and stability .

The sides compared notes on operations of the UNSC over the past six months and discused on situations in Syria, Libya and South Sudan among others, pleding to continue close cooperation over the issues of common concerns.

Minh took the occasion to invite Lavrov to attent the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and related meetings in Viet Nam in early August./.