Kazan (VNA) –National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan met with the Vietnamesecommunity in Kazan, the Republic of Tatarstan, at the House of Peoples’Friendship on December 8 (local time).

The event was also attended by Chairmanof the State Council (parliament) of Tatarstan Farid Khayrullovich Mukhametshin,who told his guest that the House of Peoples’ Friendship is used by allcommunities in Tatarstan to exchange and strengthen friendship, whilemaintaining their cultural identities. Each community has their own space atthe house, he said.

There are about 1,000 Vietnamesepeople living in Kazan, along with 96 students. The Vietnamese Association inKazan, which was established in 2002, has held various activities to fostersolidarity among the community and promote Vietnamese culture, including sportingevents and regular Vietnamese language courses for children.

At the meeting, representativesof the community expressed their hope for support to improve the quality of theVietnamese courses, thus helping to maintain their national cultural identity.

The Vietnamese students also askedfor favourable conditions to return home to work after graduation.

Addressing the meeting, the NAleader said that Vietnam considers the development of ties with Russia apriority in its external policy.

She noted that Vietnam-Russiarelations aregrowing with a high level of mutual trust, along with soundeconomic, trade, investment, security-defence and education-trainingpartnerships.

Ngan said her visit aims to bringthe bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to a new height.

Regarding the East Sea issue, shesaid that the Party and State have a consistent policy of resolutely and persistentlyprotecting the country’s seas and islands, and dealing with disputes at seathrough peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 UNConvention on the Law of the Sea.

She lauded the solidarity andmutual support of the Vietnamese community in Kazan, showing her delight thatthe community has a space at the House of People’s Friendship.

Underlining that the Vietnamesecommunity abroad is an inseparable part of the nation, the top legislator hopedthecommunity in Kazan will continue helping foster all-round ties between Vietnamand Tatarstan and contribute to the development of the homeland.

Responding to the community’sproposals, she asked the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia as well as authorizedagencies at home to support the teaching of Vietnamese to Vietnamese children.

She highlighted the Party andState’s policy of welcoming Vietnamese students home after studying overseas to contribute to national construction./.