Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

(VOVworld) – Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh has concluded a five-day official visit to Russia where he held talks with Russian senior leaders.

Minh and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin exchanged opinions on developing a strategic partnership, especially in nuclear power and military operations. Rogizin said Russia will strengthen its military cooperation with Vietnam and assist the construction of Ninh Thuan No.1 nuclear power plant. The leaders agreed on the great potential for using outer space to promote peace. Minh also held talks with the first Vice-Speaker of the State Duma, Ivan Melniko. Melniko said that the State Duma strongly supports strengthening Vietnam-Russia cooperative relations. The two agreed to boost youth exchanges between the two nations.

Minh and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed to encourage their oil enterprises to work in closer cooperation, and discussed recent developments in Southeast Asia and the East Sea. They said all sea-related disputes should be settled on the basis of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea. They also voiced support for efforts to build a Code of Conduct in the East Sea. The two agreed that Vietnam and Russia will support each other at such multilateral forums as the UN, APEC, and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

Both ministers signed a cooperation plan between their ministries for the of 2013-2014 period.