PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Pulkovo 1 Airport in Saint Petersburg (Photo: VNA)St Petersburg, (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc arrived at Pulkovo 1 airport in Saint Petersburg at 18:45 pm (local time) onMay 20, beginning his official visit to Russia at the invitation of his Russiancounterpart Dmitri Medvedev.
The Vietnamese PM and his entourage were welcomed at theairport by the Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Konstantin Vnukov, the deputygovernor of St Petersburg, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh andmany Russian and Vietnamese officials.
St Petersburg is the first stop during PM Phuc’s trip toRussia. During the stay in the second biggest city of Russia, Phuc is scheduledto meet with leaders of St Petersburg.
PM Phuc’s visit to Russia fromMay 20-23 takes place in the context that both nations will organise theVietnam Year in Russia and the Russia Year in Vietnam in 2019 and 2020 to markthe 25th anniversary of the signing of the treaty on basic principles for thebilateral relations (1994-2019) and the 70th anniversary of the diplomaticrelations (1950-2020).
It also demonstrates that Vietnam treasuresthe relations of traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnershipwith Russia, as well as aims to strengthen the all-round cooperation,especially in economy, trade and investment.
Russia is one of the firstnations to recognise and establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam on January30, 1950, which has laid the foundation for the close friendship andcomprehensive ties between the two countries.
Following efforts to develop the bilateralrelations in the 1990s, the countries set up their strategic partnership in2001, and upgraded the ties to the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2012.-VNA
