Moscow (VNA) – National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man on September 10 hosted a reception for representatives from the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Association of Russian Veterans in Vietnam, as part of his official visit to Russia.

The Russian guests hailed the visit of Chairman Man, saying that the visit will help foster the special traditional friendship between Russia and Vietnam.

They recalled the warm feelings and memories during the time they served in Vietnam, standing shoulder to shoulder with Vietnamese friends during Vietnam’s struggle for national independence.

The representatives said their associations have organised many activities to promote the Russia-Vietnam friendship and supported Vietnamese students, enterprises and localities in their study, investment, business activities in Russia and cooperation with Russian localities.

To further deepen the friendship between the two peoples, the associations proposed that Vietnam consider building a monument dedicated to Russian experts who assisted Vietnam during the fight for national liberation, and a Russia-Vietnam cultural centre in Moscow, which will organise Vietnamese language classes and cultural exchanges.

The representatives affirmed that despite unpredictable changes in the world, the friendship between the two nations will never change.

NA Chairman Man highlighted that the Party, State and people of Vietnam will forever bear in mind the valuable and whole-hearted support that the Russian people gave to Vietnam in the past struggle for national independence and reunification as well as in the present cause of national construction.

He appreciated the role and efforts of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Association of Russian Veterans in Vietnam in developing the traditional friendship and the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Recalling many projects in Vietnam built with Russian help, such as the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh, the Viet-Xo Friendship Palace, the Hoa Binh hydro electric power plant, Man said he hopes the two countries will enhance cooperation and together build even more joint works, matching the level of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

He noted that Vietnam inaugurated a monument to soldiers of the Soviet Union, Russia and Vietnam in the central province of Khanh Hoa in 2009, commemorating the noble international relationship between the Vietnam People’s Army and the army of the Soviet Union, now the Russian Federation. Man also thanked Russia for the building of a monument dedicated to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who fought to protect Moscow during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, which was inaugurated in August, which contributes to further the friendship between the two nations.

The Vietnamese top legislator asked the two associations to continue working closely with the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia and the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association to elevate their involvement in bilateral cooperation./.