Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (R) receives Russian FM Sergey Lavrov. Photo: VNA

The Party leader affirmed that Vietnam always respects and remembers the strong support and great assistance of international friends, including those from the former Soviet Union and Russia, in the past struggle for national liberation and the present cause of national development and international integration, VOV reported.

For his part, Foreign Minister Lavrov appreciated the Communist Party of Vietnam’s political position and leadership role in national development and foreign policy, including relations with the former Soviet Union and Russia today.

He affirmed Russia’s strong support for ASEAN’s centrality in the region and thanked Vietnam for its contribution to promoting Russia-ASEAN relations over the years.

Both host and guest exchanged views on major regional and international issues of shared concern.

Trong reiterated Vietnam’s willingness to contribute to promoting peace, stability, and cooperation globally, and the country’s support for holding dialogues and negotiations to settle international differences and disputes.

Russian FM meets with PM Chinh

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov. Photo: VNA

The same day, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, during which the PM affirmed that Vietnam has attached great importance to its comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia and wanted to deepen and make the bilateral cooperative ties more effective in all spheres, Nhan dan (People) newspaper said.

Highly valuating the positive results in bilateral cooperation over the past years, PM Chinh thanked the Russian side for its valuable support and assistance to Vietnam in the past and during the current process of national construction and development, most recently in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lavrov said that Russia always considers Vietnam an important partner in the region and wants to further foster cooperation with the Southeast Asian country.

Both sides agreed to further promote high-level agreements reached by leaders of the two countries and pledged to maintain bilateral cooperation in traditional areas where they have advantages.

PM Chinh asked ministries and sectors of both countries to remove difficulties in trade, investment and transport, while optimising the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and creating favourable conditions for businesses of both nations to expand their partnership.

At the same time, both sides should resume collaboration activities in the fields of culture, sports, tourism, education, training, and people-to-people exchange as the Covid-19 pandemic was controlled, he said.

The PM affirmed that Vietnam has persisted with a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development and building an independent and self-reliant economy with active international integration and firm protection of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He suggested the two sides organise the 24th meeting of the Vietnam - Russia Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic - Commercial and Scientific - Technological Cooperation in Vietnam.

The Russian minister spoke highly of Vietnam's standpoint, role, positive and responsible contributions to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world.

He agreed on the importance of settling disputes in the Bien Dong Sea (South China Sea) through peaceful measures in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and hoped for the soon finalization of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

Vietnamese, Russian FMs hold talks

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (R) and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Photo: VNA

Also on July 6, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, according to VietnamPlus.

Russia is always one of the most important partners in Vietnam's foreign policy, Son affirmed, adding that Vietnam always treasures and shows gratitude to the wholehearted support and assistance the Russian people have given to their Vietnamese counterparts in the struggle for national independence in the past as well as in the current national construction and development.

Vietnam adheres to the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of relations, he asserted, reiterating Vietnam's consistent stance on international and regional issues, including the Ukraine issue.

The Vietnamese FM said he hopes relevant ministries and sectors of Russia will continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live, study and do business in Russia.

Lavrov, for his part, emphasised that Vietnam is one of the reliable and important traditional partners of Russia in the Asia-Pacific region, expressing his wish that the two sides will continue making efforts for their comprehensive strategic partnership to bear more fruit.

He appreciated Vietnam's role in the region and in ASEAN, and affirmed support for ASEAN's centrality in the regional architecture. He said he believes that Vietnam will serve as an important bridge to help Russia further strengthen cooperation with the region, including promoting the ASEAN-Russia strategic partnership.

At the talks, the two sides reviewed the implementation of agreements reached by the high-ranking leaders of the two countries over the past time and discussed measures to foster the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

They also compared notes on international and regional issues of common concern, and agreed to continue strengthening coordination at regional and international organisations and forums./.

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