Vietnam and Russia have agreed to enhance coordination between
their two legislatures to further develop the comprehensive strategic
partnership, for the benefit of the two peoples and business communities
in various fields, from central to local levels.
The agreement was reached at talks between National Assembly (NA)
Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and Chairwoman of the Federation Council of
Russia’s Federal Assembly Valentina Matviyenko in Moscow on March
11.
At the meeting, Hung affirmed that Russia is the leading partner in Vietnam’s diplomatic policy.
The lifting of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership
last year demonstrated the two countries’ relations and mutual respect,
meeting the demand for increased bilateral ties in the new situation,
Hung said.
The NA Chairman suggested Vietnam and
Russia maintain the exchange of all-level delegations, diversify
bilateral ties and strengthen people-to-people diplomacy. He asked the
two sides to complete necessary procedures to promptly negotiate and
sign the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Customs Alliance
(Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus) to raise two-way trade to 7
billion USD by 2015.
Hung proposed the two nations
develop closer links in security-defence and military technology. In
addition, he said he hopes the Russian Federal Assembly will assist
Vietnam in improving the professional capacity of its legislators.
Both sides need to utilise consultation mechanisms and work closely
together at multilateral forums like the International Parliamentary
Union (IPU) and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, Hung said, adding
that he hopes the Russian Federal Assembly will back Vietnam to host
the IPU General Assembly in 2015.
Matviyenko said
she believes the visit will make practical contributions to
strengthening ties between the two legislative bodies, and at the same
time create new prospects for bilateral cooperation, and inter-regional
and global links.
She expressed her hope that the
two Governments will further promote cooperation in fields of each
side’s strength, especially in oil and gas, science-technology, nuclear
energy, culture, education, tourism, security and defence.
The Russian legislator suggested both sides further promote links in
defence, security and military science-technology, and finalise the FTA
between Vietnam and the Customs Alliance to lay the foundation for
economic development on each side.
Russia will
offer more scholarships to Vietnamese students each year and step up
negotiations to build the Vietnam–Russia technology university in
Hanoi, said Matviyenko.
She recommended that the
two countries’ Friendship Parliamentarian Groups work out a specific
plan to effectively implement cooperation agreements between the two
legislatures in the future, and boost ties between Hanoi/HCM City and
Moscow/St. Petersburg.
Concluding the talks, Matviyenko presented an insignia of the Russian Federal Assembly to Hung.
At the press briefing following the talks, Matviyenko asserted that
Russia supports Vietnam’s hosting of the IPU General Assembly in
2015.
The same day, Hung and his entourage laid a wreath at a memorial dedicated to unknown martyrs near the Grand Kremlin palace.-VNA