Hanoi (VNA) – Standing Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly(NA) Tong Thi Phong on September 23 had bilateral meetings with foreigndelegates on the sidelines of the 4th Meeting of Speakers ofEurasian Countries’ Parliaments (MSEAP) which takes place in Kazakhstan onSeptember 23-24.

Meeting with Deputy Chairwoman of the State Duma of Russian Federation OlgaTimofeeva, Phong expressed her delight over the comprehensive strategic partnershipbetween the two nations which has been increasingly consolidated through theexchange of high-level delegations as well as businesses and localities.

She thanked Russia for its support for Vietnam during the national constructionand defence, and affirmed the Southeast Asian country always values andprioritises the development of the partnership, as well as boosting theeffective cooperation with Russia in the fields of politics, economy, trade,defence-security and people-to-people exchange.

Regarding the bilateral parliamentary relations, Phong spoke highly of the ties,saying the cooperation agreements with the Federation Council (in November2012) and State Duma (March 2013) have served as a legal base to deepen theVietnam-Russia partnership.

The Vietnamese NA endorses the two governments’ collaboration, and will joinhands with the Russian Federal Assembly to supervise key cooperation projectsand cooperation agreements between the two nations, she said.

The official suggested both sides work closely and take full advantage of theEurasian Economic Union – Vietnam free trade agreement to facilitate trade andeconomic activities.

Olga Timofeeva, for her part, spoke highly of the meeting with the VietnameseNA representative, describing this as a valuable opportunity to review theircooperative contents.

She rejoiced at Vietnam’s attendance at the MSEAP, and affirmed that members ofthe State Duma reach broad consensus on supporting Vietnam at all multilateralforums.


While meeting head of the Japanese delegation,parliamentarian Takeo Kawamura, Phong highlighted the strong development of theVietnam-Japan relations.

Japan is one of Vietnam’s most important partners, she said, noting that theVietnamese NA and Government always make all-out efforts to remove difficultieshindering the development of the bilateral ties.

Phong affirmed the Vietnamese legislature’s support for the Vietnam-Japanextensive strategic partnership, as well as the support by Vietnamese NAdeputies for the Government’s commitments to facilitating the operation offoreign businesses, including those from Japan.

She used the occasion to call on Japan to support Vietnam in the roles as anon-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021tenure, ASEAN Chair and AIPA 41 Chair, thus contributing to maintaining peace,cooperation and development in the region and the world.

For his part, Kawamura expressed his fome sentiments towards Vietnamese landand people and hoped that cooperation between Vietnam and Japan will furtherprosper in the time ahead.


In a meeting with President of the Cambodian NationalAssembly Heng Samrin, Phong congratulated the Cambodian people’s standoutachievements in recent years, and thanked Heng Samrin and other Cambodianleaders for supporting Vietnam’s bid to become a non-permanent member of theUnited Nations Security Council while creating favourable conditions for theVietnamese people community in the host nation.

Touching on the construction of office buildings for the Secretariat andcommittees of the Cambodian National Assembly, Phong hoped that this will be ameaningful gift from the Vietnamese Party, State and people.

She also wished that Heng Samrin will continue his contributions to thefriendship, solidarity and fraternal relations between the two countries.

Heng Samrin said he has been satisfied with the fruitful ties with Vietnam,highlighting the sound traditional friendship and long-lasting cooperation havehelped both sides develop the comprehensive relations.

Earlier, the Vietnamese delegation visited the financial centre ofKazakhstan./.