President Tran Dai Quang arrived in Moscow on June 28 afternoon, beginning his official visit to Russia at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Konstantin Vnukov, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son, among others welcomed the Vietnamese State leader at Vnucovo-2 airport.

The visit demonstrates Vietnam’s consistent policy of giving Russia priority in its external policy and recognizing Russia as a reliable strategic partner.

Vietnam and Russia have enjoyed a flourishing relationship over the past years. The two sides recognized each other’s market economy in 2017.

Their economic and trade connection has also been growing with a focus on oil and gas cooperation projects.

Russia is currently ranks 23rd among 116 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Vietnam’s investment in Russia has also jumped from US$100 million in 2008 to US$2.4 billion at present, primarily in oil and gas, trade and agriculture.

Since 1991, both nations have signed more than 100 cooperation documents across a variety of fields, including economy, trade, investment, oil and gas, nuclear power, education and training, culture, science and technology, and defence.

In interviews with Russia’s leading news agencies TASS and Sputnik ahead of his visit, President Quang said the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia are strong and getting stronger.

During this visit, President Quang and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will discuss past cooperation and specify directions and measures to boost cooperation and implement the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement.

Quang said Vietnam will work to connect the EAEU with the ASEAN community, a unified market of 600 million people with a GDP of US$2.5 trillion.

In a recent interview granted to the media, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son underlined the importance of President Tran Dai Quang’s ongoing visit to Russia which is to affirm sustainable cooperation between the two countries based on mutual trust.

Son told reporters that the visit confirms Vietnam’s unwavering policy toward Russia, a comprehensive strategic partner of Vietnam, adding that the visit also demonstrates Vietnam’s integration into the world and the consolidation of its traditional relations with Russia. 

Ambassador Son pointed out economic development, trade turnover increase, and further cooperation between the two countries’ ministries, sectors, and localities as special priorities. 

Vietnam has considered Russia not only a comprehensive strategic partner but a time-honoured friendly partner, the ambassador said, adding that the mutual trust and potential promise effective economic cooperation between the two countries. 
How to enhance economic ties, two-way trade and collaboration between ministries, agencies and localities is among the most priority tasks set by the two countries, he said.

Source: vov.vn