Hanoi (VNA) – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedevwrapped up his two-day official visit to Vietnam on November 19 at theinvitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

During the trip, the Russian PM held talks with PM Phuc;paid a courtesy call to General Secretary of the Communist Party CentralCommittee (CPVCC) and President Nguyen Phu Trong; and met with NationalAssembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. On the occasion, he laid wreathes atthe Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Martyrs Monument in Hanoi, and visited a photoexhibition on Vietnam-Russia traditional relations and comprehensivecooperation, which was co-organised by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and theRussian News Agency TASS. He also toured the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Centre andpresented a gift from the Russian Government to the science and technologyresearch establishment.

Through these meetings, in an atmosphere of friendship,mutual trust, and understanding, the Vietnamese and Russian sides discussedorientations and measures to boost cooperation across many fields towardsdeepening the two nations’ strategic partnership.

They agreed to celebrate the Vietnam Year in Russia and the RussiaYear in Vietnam during 2019-2020 to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing ofthe treaty on fundamental principles of Vietnam-Russia friendly relations(2019) and the 70th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (2020).

To optimise opportunities brought by the Free TradeAgreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union, both sides promisedto coordinate and gradually address barriers on the import and export of goods,especially agro-fishery-forestry products, with the aim to raise two-way tradeto 10 billion USD by 2020.

They affirmed to continue facilitating oil and gasexploration and exploitation on Vietnam’s continental shelf and Russianterritory, and encouraged the expansion of cooperation in other fields such asliquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas power supply.

Both sides agreed to step up large-scale projects in thefields of energy, industry, transport, agriculture, and expand collaboration ininformation, digital technology, and e-Government.

They pledged their commitment to carrying out a350-million-USD Nuclear Science and Technology Centre, while encouragingcooperation to develop urban transport infrastructure and railways in Vietnam.

The sides reached a consensus on expanding joint engagementsin security-defence, science-technology, culture, tourism, education-training,and labour; as well as on the advancement of partnerships between theirlocalities.

They exchanged views on international and regional mattersof common concern. They stressed the need to maintain peace and stability,which involves ensuring aviation and navigation security, safety, and freedomin the East Sea and solving disputes peacefully on the basis of respectinginternational law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, fullyand effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in theEast Sea, and working towards the early signing of a Code of Conduct in theEast Sea.

The sides stated they will maintain coordination at multilateral forums,foster cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, the Asia-PacificEconomic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the Asia-Europe Meeting, and theASEAN-Russia cooperation, for the sake of the two peoples, and for peace,stability, and development in the region and the world. –VNA