Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Public Security Sen.Lieut. Gen. To Lam has underlined the need to bolster security cooperation withRussia and promote its role as an important pillar of the Vietnam-Russiacomprehensive strategic partnership.

During his talks with General Nikolai Patrushev, Secretaryof the Security Council of the Russia Federation, in Hanoi on July 25, Lamproposed that the two sides coordinate closely in foiling all plots andsabotage acts of hostile forces and all types of crimes.

Both sides should ensure security and safety for theirdiplomatic representative offices and citizens in their respective countries,while strengthening exchange of information and mutual support at multilateralforums and international organisations, especially those on non-traditionalsecurity challenges, cyber security and terrorism prevention and combat, hesaid.

Sen. Lieut. Gen. To Lam said that in the coming time,the two sides should increase the exchange of delegations to effectively promotemutual understanding between Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security and Russia’sSecurity Council Office in security, especially in areas of shared concern,including the risks and challenges threatening security and public order ineach country as well as the region and the world.

Coordination outcomes between the two sides will helpleaders of both countries to give suitable response to the risks andchallenges, thus boosting the two countries’ cooperation in both bilateral andmultilateral framework.

At the talks, Sen. Lieut. Gen. To Lam noted that thetraditional relations between Vietnam and Russia have grown strongly throughvisits of senior leaders, including President Tran Dai Quang’s visit to Russiain June this year and the upcoming visit by President V. Putin to attend theAPEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in this November.

Partnership between Vietnam’s Public Security Ministryand Russia’s Security Council Office has also developed through regular sharingof information and experience. On the foundation of the cooperation programmesigned between the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and Ministry of the Interiorof Russia for the 2016-2018 period, the two sides have coordinated closely incombating crimes, especially those related to high technology, drug and humantrafficking.

For his part, General Nikolai Patrushev lauded the twocountries’ sound political trust as well as close coordination and mutualsupport at international arena, while pledging to work hard to boost the growthof the bilateral strategic partnership in general and the cooperation betweenVietnam’s Ministry of Public Security and Russia’s Security Council Office andother security agencies.

Following the talks, the two sides signed a memorandumof understanding between the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Ministryof the Interior of Russia on cooperation in preventing and combating theproduction, transport, trade, proliferation and abuse of new psychotropicsubstances. -VNA