Mr. Korolev praised the ideas about meeting maritime security challenges which Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed at a UN Security Council meeting this week, calling them fully consistent with Vietnam’s maritime policy in the South China Sea (called the East Sea in Vietnam). Dr. Korolev said Russia-Vietnam maritime cooperation is built on a long-time partnership exemplified by the Cam Ranh naval base in Khanh Hoa province, which provided logistical and technical support for the Russian navy. Vietnam and Russia maintain extensive naval cooperation, which includes purchase of weapons and equipment, Russian technical support for Vietnam’s shipbuilding facilities, naval exchanges, and anti-piracy joint drills in the Malacca Strait.