State President grants interview to Russian news agencies

Regarding the achievements gained by the two nations and cooperative prospects in the future, the State President highlighted that over the past 65 years, the two sides established the Strategic Partnership in 2001 and upgraded it to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in July 2012.

The political relations have been strengthened through a number of mechanisms, including delegation exchanges and regular bilateral meetings at all levels and strategic dialogues and consultations. At the end of this year, Viet Nam welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin to pay a visit to Viet Nam and attend the APEC Summit Week 2017 in the central city of Da Nang.

The two sides have always cooperated and supported each other at multi-lateral forums such as the United Nations, APEC, ASEM and ASEAN-Russia.

The two-way trade turnover reached US$2.7 billion in 2016 and US$1.1 billion in the first four months of 2017, witnessing respective year-on-year increases of 25% and 30%.  

State President Quang hailed the signing of the Viet Nam-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement, heading to raise the trade value between Viet Nam and the EAEU to US$10 billion by 2020.

Cooperation in such areas as national defense and security, science-technology, education-training, culture and tourism have been promoted.

In 2016, as many as 430,000 Russian visitors travelled to Viet Nam, up 12.8% against in 2015.                

When asked about crucial issues which will be discussed between the two nations’ high-ranking leaders during the visit, Mr. Quang said that he will confirm the consistent policy of Viet Nam regarding Russia as priority in its diplomatic policy and a reliable and comprehensive strategic partner at his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and PM Dmitri Medvedev.

The two sides will exchange measures to strengthen bilateral relationship, identify ways to boost cooperation in all fields, especially launching the Viet Nam-EAEU Free Trade Agreement.

He will propose Russia continue enhancing cooperation in the national defense and security, science-technology, education-training, culture, labor and locality-to-locality exchanges as well as facilitating Overseas Vietnamese in Russia to stabilize their lives.

The two sides will also discuss issues of international and regional concerns, including cooperation in APEC 2017 and within the ASEAN-Russia cooperation framework.

Referring the cooperative potentials between the two countries in the future, State President Quang suggested enhancing political relations, further cooperating in pillars in terms of trade, energy, defense-security, education-training, science-technology, high tech as well as other areas such as oil exploration,  oil refinery, pipeline construction, long-term crude oil supply to refineries and liquefied petroleum gas.      

State President Quang hailed the strategic meaning of the Viet Nam-EAEU Free Trade Agreement, which creates a legal framework and favorable conditions for developing economic and trade relations between Viet Nam and the EAEU in general and with each member country in particular.

After the agreement was inked, the two-way trade value between Viet Nam and Russia witnessed average growth of 18-20%, aiming to attain US$10-12 billion by 2020.

The Agreement plays a crucial role in promoting each country’s economic development, strengthening trade, service and bilateral investment exchanges and expanding relations in the region.

Viet Nam will help the EAEU accelerate cooperative relations with the ASEAN Community, he asserted.  

By Thuy Dung