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Publication Date : 12-03-2013

Vietnam and Russia have agreed to enhance coordination to further develop their comprehensive strategic partnership.

The agreement was reached at talks between National Assembly (NA) chairperson Nguyen Sinh Hung and chairperson of the Federation Council of Russia Valentina Matviyenko in Moscow yesterday.

At the meeting, Hung declared that Russia is the leading partner in Vietnam's diplomatic policy.

The lifting of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership last year demonstrated the growing relations and respect between the nations, Hung said.

The NA chairman suggested Vietnam and Russia maintain the exchange of delegations, diversify bilateral ties and strengthen people-to-people diplomacy. He asked the two sides to complete necessary procedures to promptly negotiate and sign the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Customs Alliance (which consists of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus) to raise two-way trade to US$7billion by 2015.

Hung proposed the two nations develop closer links in security-defence and military technology. In addition, he said he hopes the Russian Federal Assembly will assist Vietnam in improving the professional capacity of its legislators.

Both sides need to utilise consultation mechanisms and work closely together at multilateral forums like the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, Hung said, adding that he hopes the Russian Federal Assembly will back Vietnam to host the IPU General Assembly in 2015.

Matviyenko said she believes the visit will make practical contributions to strengthening ties between the two legislative bodies, and at the same time create new prospects for bilateral cooperation and inter-regional and global links.

She expressed her hope that the two governments will further promote partnerships in their areas of strength, especially in oil and gas, science-technology, nuclear energy, culture, education, tourism, security and defence.

She agreed that both sides should finalise the FTA between Vietnam and the Customs Alliance to lay the foundation for further economic development.

Russia will offer more scholarships to Vietnamese students each year and step up negotiations to build the Vietnam - Russia technology university in Hanoi, said Matviyenko. She recommended that the two countries' Friendship Parliamentarian Groups work out a specific plan to boost ties between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Moscow and St. Petersburg.

At the press briefing following the talks, Matviyenko asserted that Russia supports Vietnam's hosting of the IPU General Assembly in 2015.

The same day, Hung and his entourage laid a wreath at a memorial dedicated to unknown martyrs near the Grand Kremlin palace.