Russia aims to strengthen comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam - Putin
HANOI. June 20 (Interfax) - Russia aims at further strengthening of comprehensive relations with Vietnam, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"In spite of all difficulties of the current period, we aim to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. We will be promoting it in every way possible. I hope and do not doubt that this visit will contribute to the strengthening of our relations, as well," Putin said at a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on Thursday.
Pham said, for his part, he was expecting Putin's visit to give a fresh impetus to the traditional relations between Vietnam and Russia.
"Your visit, the fifth one, will give a fresh impetus to the traditional relations between Vietnam and Russia," Pham said.
The bilateral relations are based on equality and mutual benefit and actively contribute to the development of each country and the strengthening of peace, stability and development of the region and the world at large, he said.
The visit is taking place amid the 30th anniversary of the bilateral treaty on fundamentals of friendly relations, Pham said. He confirmed that Russia is a priority of Vietnam's foreign policy.
"Vietnam highly appreciates the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia built by generations of leaders and people in both countries," he said.
While meeting with General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, Putin reaffirmed Russia's commitment to deepening the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.
"We are set to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam, which remains a priority of Russian foreign policy. We are ready to continue joint active work on a broad range of issues, including economic, scientific, technical, defense, security and humanitarian contacts," he said.
Putin thanked Vietnam for its invitation to pay a visit, which "everyone used gladly," he said. "Vietnam has been and remains our trusted friend and partner. Bilateral relations are time-tested, including during the years of the heroic struggle of the Vietnamese people for independence," he said.
Their relations are based on trust and mutual understanding, which helps solve the most pressing problems and confidently make progress. Putin said. "Symbolically, my visit to Vietnam coincides with a remarkable date, the 30th anniversary of the conclusion of the treaty on the basis of friendly relations that laid the legal foundation for their further development," he said.
Speaking of successes, Putin noted good dynamics in bilateral trade, which grew over 8% last year, he said. "The intergovernmental commission should be working and doing a lot to consolidate the positive trend," he said.
Cooperation in personnel training is also ongoing, Putin said. Russian higher educational establishments have trained 75,000 Vietnamese specialists, and more than 3,000 citizens of Vietnam are being trained in Russia under the state quota.
"I am due to meet with alumni of Soviet and Russian higher educational establishments later today. I know there are many outstanding citizens of your country among them: they have made a great contribution to strengthening Russian-Vietnamese relations and the development of Vietnam. I recall an amicable meeting of the kind we had in 2001," Putin said.
