Vietnam PM receives Russian foreign minister

Receiving the Russian minister at the government office in Hanoi Wednesday, the PM said the bilateral cooperation should be made "deeper and more effective" in all fields.

He pointed out that Lavrov's visit comes at a time when the two nations mark the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

He said they should soon resolve difficulties in trade, investment and transport and continue to make efforts to take full advantage of the Eurasian Economic Union free trade agreement to create favorable conditions for businesses in the two countries to expand cooperation.

He called for early restoration of cooperation in culture, sports, tourism, education and training, and people-to-people exchanges now that Covid-19 is under control.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (L) shakes hands with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi, July 6, 2022. Photo by Vietnam News Agency

Lavrov said Russia always considers Vietnam an important partner in the region and wishes to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

He highly evaluates Vietnam’s stand, role, and contributions in ensuring peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world.

He concurred with Vietnam’s views to handle disputes in the East Sea, known internationally as the South China Sea, with peaceful measures based on international laws such as the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and hoped that a Code of Conduct in the sea will soon be achieved.

Prior to the meeting with Chinh, Lavrov had met with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son.

Son affirmed that Vietnam is "steadfast in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification," continuing to affirm Vietnam's consistent stance on international and regional issues, including the Ukraine issue.

He also wished that Russian Foreign Ministry and relevant units will continue to support the Vietnamese community in Russia.

Lavrov paid a two-day visit to Vietnam on Tuesday at the invitation of Son.

Vietnam and the then Soviet Union established diplomatic relations in 1950.

Russia, the latter's successor state, and Vietnam elevated it into a strategic partnership in 2001 and into a comprehensive strategic partnership 11 years later.