Hanoi (VNA) – The official visits of National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi KimNgan to Russia and Belarus are expected to give a strong boost to Vietnam’sties with those two traditional friendly countries, according to Chairman ofthe NA’s Committee for External Relations Nguyen Van Giau.

Talking to thepress following Chairwoman Ngan’s visit, the NA official said during talks andmeetings with the Vietnamese top legislator, Russian leaders all hailed the importanceof the visit to Vietnam-Russia relationship, and reiterated Russia’s policy onstrengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam.

The Russian side emphasizedthe good political ties between the two countries, as seen through high-level visitsin the past two years, noting that mutual political trust has paved the way forcooperation in other fields, particularly in economic partnership.

In bilateraleconomic, trade and investment ties, cooperation on oil and gas and energy has continuedto be an important pillar. Since the signing of the Vietnam-Eurasian EconomicUnion (EAEU) free trade agreement in 2016, Vietnam-Russia bilateral trade hasbeen rising fast, from 2.5 billion USD in 2015 to 4.5 billion USD in 2018, accordingto Vietnam’s statistics. Russia’s statistics put the 2018 figure at 6.1 billionUSD. The two countries’ goal is to raise two-way trade to 10 billion USD.

Leaders ofVietnam and Russia also wanted the two countries to organize practicalactivities to mark their major anniversaries in 2020, which are the occasionsto educate their people, especially young generations, to understand the goodties between the two countries.

Giau noted thatChairwoman Ngan was invited to speak at a plenary of the Federation Council,which was rarely seen before. In her address at the council, which wasbroadcast live on the council’s TV channel vmeste-rf.tv, theVietnamese top legislator recalled the strong and valuable support of theSoviet Union in the past and Russia at present for Vietnam’s nationalliberation struggle and national construction and defence. She also expressedher belief that the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam andRussia will continue to be strengthened and developed, contributing to eachcountry’s prosperity.

In the frameworkof the visit, the NA Chairwoman and Chairman of the State Duma of Russia co-chairedthe first meeting of the inter-parliamentary cooperation committee betweenthe Vietnamese NA and the Russian Duma, which is a new cooperative mechanism establishedunder an agreement signed between the two sides at the end of 2018. It is thehighest mechanism in bilateral parliamentary cooperation and the first betweenthe Vietnamese NA and a legislative body of another country.

At the firstmeeting, the inter-parliamentary cooperation committee focusedon cooperation in multilateral forums, the signing and implementation ofinternational treaties signed between the two countries, and bilateralcollaboration on science-technology, defence and security.

Regarding the NAChairwoman’s visit to Belarus, the Chairman of the NA’s Committee for ExternalRelations noted that this is a special visit as Belarus has just completed the parliamentaryelection. However, the Belarusian side had made careful preparation for the visit.

According toGiau, Belarusian leaders shared the assessment that the Vietnameseparliamentary leader’s visit will create a strong momentum for bilateral ties.  

During allmeetings during Chairwoman’s Ngan’s visit, both sides noted that bilateraltrade has not match their potential and aspiration, and the need to seek newdirections to promote economic and trade ties. Vietnam’s statistics put two-waytrade at over 92 million USD in 2018 while Belarus’s statistics put the figureat 153 million USD.

Chairwoman Ngansuggested the two sides set up joint ventures to produce goods in Vietnam, citingthe inauguration in September this year of a truck making joint venture inVietnam as a good example.

Meanwhile, theBelarusian side wanted to set up a channel for trade, and asked Vietnam toimport more potassium fertilizer from Belarus.

The two sidesdiscussed and agreed upon many specific measures to bolster their economic,trade and investment ties, aiming to raise two-way trade to 500 million USD.

During themeetings, Chairwoman Ngan mentioned the East Sea issue and called on Belarus tosupport Vietnam and the ASEAN’s stance and principle on settling disputes bypeaceful means without using or threatening to use force, on the basis ofinternational law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,while fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct ofParties in the East Sea and working towards the early conclusion of the Code ofConduct on the East Sea, thus contributing to maintaining peace, stability and developmentin the region.

Chairman Giauconcluded that the official visits of NA Chairwoman Ngan to Russia and Belarus from December 8 - 14 were very successful./.