Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev hold talks in Moscow on May 22, 2019. (Photo: VGP)

The two leaders called organizing a Vietnam Year in Russia in 2019 and a Russia Year in Vietnam in 2020 major events in bilateral ties, contributions to the time-tested friendship, and a new driving force for cooperation.

They said political relations have been consolidated by frequent exchanges of visits and meetings at all levels through various channels.

They expressed pleasure at the strong progress in Vietnam-Russia trade and investment since the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union came into force in 2016. The two PMs agreed to promote joint oil and gas exploration and exploitation in Russia and on Vietnam’s continental shelf. They agreed to continue expanding ties in science, technology, education, training, culture, sports, and tourism and to boost ties between localities to forge a stronger multifaceted relationship between Vietnam and Russia.

Prime Minister Phuc and Prime Minister Medvedev discussed global and regional issues, including maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea and throughout Asia-Pacific.

Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements in nuclear energy, oil, gas, construction, tourism, justice, and inter-city ties.

At a joint press conference, Prime Minister Phuc urged Vietnam and Russia make the most of the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union free trade agreement to create breakthroughs in economic cooperation.

He told reporters: “Prime Minister Medvedev and I reviewed major existing cooperative projects and weighed future projects. We will focus our cooperation in automobile assembling and manufacturing, oil and gas, and the development of energy and transportation infrastructure. Vietnam welcomes Russian businesses’ involvement in Vietnam’s urban traffic and railway projects. The two countries have reaped fruits in oil and gas cooperation and will help oil and gas businesses expand their cooperation.”

Prime Minister Medvedev called their talks a success. He suggested Russia and Vietnam increase their investment and work together to build a center for nuclear energy science and technology in Vietnam for which an agreement was signed on Wednesday.

Russia has provided educational training to 50,000 Vietnamese and is currently hosting thousands of Vietnamese students.