Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuchas asked the National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam and Russia’s Federal Council tocontinue all-level delegation exchanges and diversify channels of cooperation.

Meeting with Chairwoman of the Russian senateValentina Ivanovna Matvienko in Hanoi on February 21, he said he believes thatMatvienko’s official visit to Vietnam, made at the invitation of NA ChairwomanNguyen Thi Kim Ngan, will greatly contribute to cooperation between the twoparliaments, governments and peoples.

The two countries boast a time-testedfriendship, and Vietnam always prioritises the enhancement of the comprehensivestrategic partnership with Russia, he said.

He also noted with satisfaction the politicalrelationship with special trust, which has been consolidated through delegationexchanges, particularly at high levels. Both sides have also maintained closecoordination at international meetings.

Expressing his delight at the growing tiesbetween the two legislatures, PM Phuc welcomed efforts by the foreignministries to devise and effectively implement prioritised tasks for 2017 toboost bilateral relations in a more substantive, effective and comprehensivemanner.

Relevant ministries and sectors of Vietnam andRussia should work together more closely and effectively carry out the Vietnam– Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), thereby makingbreakthroughs to raise bilateral trade to 10 billion USD by 2020, he said.

He asked the Russian parliament to supervise theFTA realisation and help to soon issue internal documents necessary for thedeal to be implemented in line with Russia’s legal regulations.

He also told the Russian side to support theearly signing of an agreement on food safety control to facilitate Vietnam’sexport of agricultural and aquatic products to Russia.

His country hopes the Russian parliament,authorised agencies, and relevant localities to assist the implementation of aVietnamese light industry zone project, investment projects of the TH True Milkgroup, and investment activities of other Vietnamese businesses there, the hostleader said.

Aside from oil and gas cooperation projects,Vietnam also supports Russia’s involvement in its energy projects (hydropowerand renewable energy) and infrastructure projects (railway, metro).

At the meeting, PM Phuc affirmed his countryalways considers Russia as a prioritised partner in military technique cooperation,and it wants to expand collaboration in defence-security with Russia.

He thanked the Russian parliament and Governmentfor helping the Southeast Asian nation in manpower training and planning toincrease the number of scholarships for Vietnam to 1,000 each year. The twosides should continue considering the establishment of a Russian university inVietnam while pressing on with teaching Russian here.

Vietnam will actively support the organisationof the Russian Culture Days in Vietnam this year, the leader said, adding thatit is providing e-visas for Russian citizens and hopes that the number ofRussian tourists to Vietnam will keep rising in the time ahead.

Speaking highly of locality-to-localitycooperation through the connection of the Russian Federal Council, the PM hopedthat this connection will remain effective to help with partnerships in mining,energy and people-to-people exchange.

He also thanked and asked Russia to continuegiving fabourable conditions for Vietnamese people to live and do stable, legaland long-term business in the country, and integrate into local society.

For her part, Chairwoman Matvienko congratulatedVietnam on its socio-economic and diplomatic achievements, stressing that hervisit to Vietnam aims to tighten cooperation with the Vietnamese NA and peoplein the spirit of the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Vietnam posts a high growth rate inAsia-Pacific, which illustrates the right directions in its socio-economicdevelopment solutions, she said.

Highlighting the two peoples’ traditionalrelationship and friendship, she also voiced her delight at the vigorous growthin bilateral ties

She asked both sides to continue capitalising ontheir respective potential to maximise the strategic partnership. They shouldincrease delegation exchanges, especially at high levels. Meanwhile, the twoGovernments need to work more closely to improve the effectiveness of jointprogrammes and projects in all spheres, especially economics and trade, so asto bring bilateral relations on par with their potential.

Matvienko called for more cultural andpeople-to-people exchanges, diversify economic and trade partnerships to optimisethe Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union FTA.

Russia wants to bolster affiliation with Vietnamin oil refinery, petrochemistry, and liquefied gas which are Russia’sadvantages, she noted, suggesting the two sides promote cooperation inagriculture and trading agricultural products since both are potential markets.

The Chairwoman underlined the traditional cooperationin education-training as a number of Vietnamese people used to study in Russia.She said her country is willing to assist Vietnam to teach Russian in the ASEANnation and wants Vietnam to facilitate the organisation of the Russian CultureDays here.

Russia attaches importance to its enterprises’investment and business projects in Vietnam. It hopes that the local Governmentand relevant agencies to create optimal conditions for them to operate smoothly,helping to intensify the countries’ cooperation in a result-oriented fashion,she added. -VNA