Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrives in Saint Petersburg, May 20, 2019. (Photo: VOV)

The Vietnamese PM and his entourage were welcomed at the airport by the Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Konstantin Vnukov, the deputy governor of St Petersburg, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh, and many other Russian and Vietnamese officials. Prime Minister Phuc laid a wreath at Memorial-Piskaryoskoe Cemetery, and visited the Winter Palace, Lenin Memorial Park, and Smolny Palace. Prime Minister Phuc is scheduled to meet with the leaders of St Petersburg and Gazprom Group.

Mr. Phuc and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation will later leave Saint Petersburg for Moscow, where he will have talks with Russian Prime Minister Medvedev, and meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Duma Vyacheslav Volodin, and Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Vladimir Matvienko. The two sides will discuss ways to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia and enhance mutual understanding between their two peoples.

Mr. Phuc will join the Russian Prime Minister and officials at the opening ceremony of Vietnam Year in Russia. The Prime Minister will also attend the Vietnam-Russia Business Forum and meet with the leaders of a number of Russian corporations to promote cooperation.