Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Hanoi on November 19, 2018. (Source: VNA)

PM Phuc affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of treasuring and prioritizing its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.

PM Medvedev said that Russia considers Vietnam as one of its most important partners in the Asia-Pacific region. Both leaders promised to coordinate and gradually address barriers on the import and export of goods, especially agro-fishery-forestry products, with the aim to raise two-way trade to 10 billion USD by 2020.

The PMs praised oil and gas cooperation, considering it one of the important pillars in Vietnam-Russia collaboration. They vowed to continue facilitating oil and gas exploration and exploitation on Vietnam’s continental shelf and Russia’s territory, and encouraged the expansion of cooperation in other fields such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas power supply. They affirmed their commitment to carrying out a 350-million-USD Nuclear Science and Technology Centre, while encouraging cooperation to develop urban transport infrastructure and railways in Vietnam.

The PMs also exchanged views on different regional and international issues of mutual concern and stressed the need to maintain peace and stability. This involves ensuring aviation and navigation security, safety, and freedom in the East Sea towards solving disputes peacefully on the basis of respecting international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and working towards the early signing of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

General Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee and President Nguyen Phu Trong (R) and visiting Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (Source: VNA)

The same day, PM Medvedev met Party leader and President Nguyen Phu Trong who said Vietnam has always and will continue to consider Russia a reliable and leading partner. He called on Russia to enhance collaboration with Southeast Asian nations and improve its role and position in the Asia-Pacific region. He stressed that Vietnam welcomes Russian businesses and will continue to create favorable conditions for them to engage in key projects in Vietnam in the fields of energy, transport, and oil and gas.