In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of President Quang Tran Dai Quang’s Russia visit, the ambassador said the trip is to affirm Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of regarding Russia as a comprehensive strategic partner.
It also reflects Vietnam’s international integration as well as the mutual trust in the relationship which has been tested for nearly a century and further enhanced following Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to Russia to attend the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Sochi in 2016, he added.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son
The diplomat described the President’s visit as a breakthrough in the Vietnam-Russia relations, especially in the present context, in order to reassure sustainable cooperation between the two countries based on their mutual trust.
He noted that the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia has been built on the relationship between Vietnam and the former Soviet Union.
Amidst the world’s complicated developments, Vietnam and Russia should look into their potential for cooperation, he suggested.
Vietnam has considered Russia not only a comprehensive strategic partner but a time-honored friendly partner, the ambassador said, adding that the mutual trust and potential promise effective economic cooperation between the two countries.
How to promote economic ties, elevate two-way trade and step up cooperation between the two countries’ ministries, agencies and localities is among the most priority tasks set by the two countries, Ambassador Son noted.
The diplomat appreciated the partnership established over the past two years between Vietnamese economic groups and localities with their Russian counterparts.
Orientation for cooperation should be encouraged and facilitated, he said, attributing a 30 percent year-on-year increase in bilateral trade over the past six months to efforts made by Vietnamese and Russian localities and agencies.
Visits by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders have created a firm foundation for the mutual trust and the comprehensive strategic partnership, emphasized the ambassador.
Source: VNA