They lauded growing bilateral ties over the past years,especially political relationship with high trust which has laid solidfoundation for sustainable and dynamic development of Vietnam – Russiacomprehensive strategic partnership.
Both sides agreed to increase all-level exchanges andimprove the efficiency of existing cooperation, dialogue and consultationmechanisms, accelerate negotiations and signing of new deals to create legalfoundation for all-around ties.
Hailing the positive outcomes of the Vietnam - EurasianEconomic Union Free Trade Agreement (VN-EAEU FTA), they agreed to furtherstrive to lift two-way trade to 10 billion USD by 2020. The figure rose 31percent annually to 3.55 billion USD in 2017.
Host and guest promised to offer timely collaboration todeal with issues while carrying out the VN-EAEU FTA to facilitate the exchangeof goods, services and investment between the two countries.
They expressed satisfaction about extended links acrossnational defence-security, education-training, science-technology, culture,tourism and human culture, contributing to further tightening solidarity andfriendship between the two peoples.
The two officials agreed to successfully hold the Year ofVietnam in Russia and Year of Russia in Vietnam scheduled for 2019 on theoccasion of the 25th anniversary of a treaty on basic principles for bilateralfriendship.
Deputy PM Minh asked Russia to issue mechanisms in supportof Vietnamese citizens living and working in the country who will serve as abridge connecting the two countries.
Discussing regional and global issues of shared concern,host and guest stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability inthe region, ensuring security, maritime and overflight safety and freedom,respecting diplomatic and legal process, peacefully settling disputes in theEast Sea in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Vietnam and Russia will continue strengthening mutualliaison at multilateral forums, the United Nations and ASEAN forums,contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
The host expressed his belief that the visit would create anew driving force for bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.
Concluding the talks, both sides signed a cooperation planbetween the two foreign ministries for the 2019-2020 period, thus making activecontributions to reinforcing bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.
Lavrov is on an official visit to Vietnam from March 22-23.-VNA