Russia attaches importance to strategic partnership with Vietnam

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova (Photo: TASS).

Maria Zakharova said on March 1 that the statement on the Vietnam-Russia strategic partnership is a clear and tangible confirmation of the aspirations of both countries’ people in gradually strengthening their time-honoured tradition of friendship and cooperation for mutual benefit.

The signing of this historical document is the logical result of decades of fruitful cooperation between our countries in many fields and demonstrates our determination to expand bilateral relations in new historical conditions, she noted.

Vietnam and Russia marked the 20th anniversary of the signing of their statement on their strategic partnership on March 1.

According to the spokesperson, the Vietnam-Russia strategic partnership has achieved impressive results during the past 20 years through high-level political dialogues and reciprocal visits by the two countries’ top leaders. Bilateral cooperation in trade, economics, military and military engineering, science-technology, and humanitarian cooperation has been given a boost.

New cooperation mechanisms developed in recent times have helped foster effective interactions in addressing current affairs of bilateral agenda and closely coordinating action on international arena. On that basis, the two countries agreed to establish their comprehensive strategic partnership in 2012.

Zakharova also highlighted the strong support and mutual assistance of the two counties in the fight against COVID-19, saying both sides have shared experience, held consultations and provided necessary assistance in order to control this dangerous disease.

Despite fundamental changes in the entire international relations system, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Russia, based on effective cooperation, is an important element of Russia’s foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific region, stressed spokesperson Zakharova.

On this occasion, the Russian state news agency TASS made an interview with Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Konstantin Vnukov, who emphasized that bilateral relations have yielded great success during the past two decades.

Russia appreciates the achievements the two countries have obtained in trade and economics, especially after the Free Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Vietnam took effect in 2016, said Ambassador Vnukov.

According to the diplomat, the enforcement of the agreement has helped raise Vietnam-Russia trade to US$5.7 billion by 2020, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He singled out oil and gas as a potential area of cooperation between the two countries, saying joint venture firms such as Vietsovpetro, Rusvietpetro, Gazpromviet and Vietgazprom, have operated efficiently over the years, bringing significant economic benefits for both Russia and Vietnam.