Moscow (VNA) –Vietnam always takes the Russian Federation as a top priority partner in itsforeign policy, and wishes to further push up and deepen the bilateralrelations of cooperation in all fields on the basis of mutual trust and for thebenefit of the two peoples.

So said General Secretary ofthe Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, now on anofficial visit to Russia, while receiving leader of the Communist Party of theRussian Federation Gennady Zyuganov in Moscow on September 8.

Party leader Trong said he ishappy to meet Zyuganov again and stressed that for the Vietnamese people, thepeople of the former Soviet Union and of the current Russia are always friendsand brothers, and this sentiment will never change.

The Vietnamese people willnever forget the valuable support and assistance, both spiritual and material,given by the people of the former Soviet Union and of the current Russia toVietnam during its national defence in the past and its current nationalconstruction and development, Party leader Trong reiterated.

He took the occasion tothank the Russian party for its active support to President Vladimir Putin’spolicy of developing the relations of friendship and comprehensive cooperationwith Vietnam, and expressed his belief that the Russian party will further consolidateits firm position in the social and political life in Russia, thus makingimportant contributions to prosperity in Russia as well as to the internationalcommunist and worker’s movement.

Party leader Trong spokehighly of the Russian party’s successful organization of various eventsrelating to the international communist movement, and stressed that theCommunist Party of Vietnam always treasures the fine, traditional relations offriendship with the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. He also took theoccasion to ask the Russian party to continue supporting Vietnam in itsnational construction and defence.

In the time to come, the twosides should intensify the exchange of delegations at various levels, activelysupport the cooperative relations between their mass organizations, and payattention to the consolidation of the organization and operation of thefriendship associations, the Party leader said. He also expressed his hope thatthe Russian party, with its prestige and influence, will do its utmost to pushup the comprehensive and strategic partnership between the two countries.

For his part, Zyuganovrecalled his profound memories of Vietnam and said he is happy to see thatVietnam still continues the relations of friendship and cooperation withRussia.

The Russian party leaderexpressed his joy and pride at Vietnam’s achievements in its renewal and nationaldevelopment as well as at the fine development of the Russia – Vietnam relations,and said he hopes the cooperative relations between localities of the twocountries will be pushed up.

The Communist Party of the RussianFederation always supports cooperation programmes with Vietnam, Zyuganovstressed, adding that the party will closely join hands with the Vietnameseside in organizing various practical and significant activities on the occasionof the Year of Russia in Vietnam and the Year of Vietnam in Russia. He alsospoke highly of the close collaboration and active contributions from the VietnameseParty to the organization and successes of the events held by the Russianparty.

Also within the framework ofthe official visit to Russia by Party leader Trong, Politburo member andSecretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Van Binh,who is also head of the its economic commission, received Chairman of theInternational Investment Bank Nikolay Kosov and Chairman of the InternationalBank for Economic Cooperation Denis Ivanov.

The two sides exchangedviews on issues related to the development of relations and cooperation in thebanking field. The leaders of the banks expressed their wish to continuereceiving support from Vietnam and affirmed that they will further develop thecooperation with Vietnamese partners.

For his part, Binh spokehighly of the achievements recorded by the two banks, affirmed support to theiraction plans, and welcomed their cooperation and investment projects inVietnam.-VNA