Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh speaks at the meeting with the two countries' press agencies in Moscow on January 30 (Photo: VNA)Moscow (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador to RussiaNgo Duc Manh highlighted developments in the two countries’ relations last yearat a meeting with representatives of Russian and Vietnamese media agencies inMoscow on January 30.
He said bilateral ties have been flourishing inall fields, from politics, economy, defence-security and science-technology toeducation and people-to-people links.
In politics, mutual trust was enhanced thanks tofrequent delegation exchanges last year, including a Russia visit by PartyGeneral Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and trips to Vietnam by Russian PrimeMinister Dmitry Medvedev and Chairman of the State Duma Viacheslav Volodin.
One of the highlights in bilateral connectionsis the growing cooperation in defence-security, Manh said, noting that for thefirst time, Vietnam took part in army games in Russia and vessels of Russia’sPacific Fleet visited Cam Ranh Port of Vietnam.
Capitalising on the free trade agreement betweenVietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union, to which Russia is a party, the twocountries’ businesses have bolstered economic, trade and investmentpartnerships, the diplomat said.
According to the General Department of VietnamCustoms, bilateral trade reached 4.57 billion USD in 2018, up 28.6 percent fromthe previous year.
[2019 to be an eventful year in Vietnam-Russia ties: diplomat]
Building on positive energy exploitation cooperation,the two sides have been promoting key joint projects, especially the centre fornuclear science and technology and urban transport development projects inVietnam.
Manh added they have also expanded collaborationto digital technology, e-government, renewable energy and the production ofseeds, pesticides, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals.
Regarding tourism, the number of Russianvisitors to Vietnam hit a record of more than 600,000 in 2018, ranking firstamong European nations and sixth among all sources of tourists to the SoutheastAsian nation, he said, adding that more and more Vietnamese have also visitedRussia.
Locality-to-locality ties have been reinforcedand become substantive, focusing on economic, trade, investment, cultural andeducational links. Many localities have sought trade and investment partnershipopportunities and set up twin relations.
In terms of cooperation in 2019, Ambassador Manhsaid this year, the two countries will mark the 25th anniversary of the signingof the treaty on basic principles of the Vietnam-Russia friendship and prepareto mark 70 years of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2020.
They will organise the Russia Year in Vietnamand the Vietnam Year in Russia, which are important to strengthening their comprehensivestrategic partnership. Accordingly, a variety of activities will be heldthroughout 2019 and 2020, from high-ranking visits, workshops, exhibitions totrade, investment and tourism promotion events, arts performances and youthexchanges.
He expressed his belief that the Friendship Yearwill be successful and boost the countries’ partnership.-VNA
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