Dmitry Medvedev held talks with Prime Minister of Vietnam
Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Excerpts from the transcript:
Nguyen Xuan Phuc (via
interpreter): Mr Prime Minister, friends
and the media,
Speaking on behalf
of the Government of Vietnam, I would like to say that we are delighted to be
able to meet with Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev within the framework
of his official visit to Vietnam. First and
foremost, I would like to once again congratulate Mr Medvedev on his
appointment as Prime Minister. Mr Medvedev is
a good friend of Vietnam and has known and has been closely connected with
Vietnam for years. We are glad that we will be able to continue working with Mr
Medvedev to strengthen our ties between Vietnam and Russia so that they will
develop even more energetically and productively in the interests of our
countries.
We had very fruitful talks during which we analysed
the results of our bilateral cooperation and discussed and coordinated the common
areas and practical measures for the continued build-up of Russian-Vietnamese
cooperation in all spheres. We agree with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on
the assessment of the special relations of comprehensive strategic partnership
that have developed between our two countries.
We believe that our confidential political relations, a regular dialogue we
maintain at all levels, including between our leaders, parties, governments and
parliaments, as well as multifaceted cultural relations and ties between our
people, including young people, as well as our interaction on the international
stage, constitute a solid foundation for the further strengthening of
comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia. In this connection, we would like to express our
appreciation of the outcome of the recent official visit by President and
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong to Russia. That visit provided a
powerful boost to the development of our bilateral cooperation in all spheres.
Dmitry Medvedev: Comrade Nguyen Xuan Phuc, colleagues, media representatives,
To begin with, I would like to thank my counterpart, the prime minister
of Vietnam, for his warm words about myself, my colleagues, and the Government
of the Russian Federation.
Comrade Nguyen Xuan Phuc and I have held quite meaningful and productive
talks, discussed all pressing bilateral matters, and focused on all components
of this cooperation – political, trade, investment and humanitarian. We also
talked about the implementation of all joint projects.
Russia and Vietnam are linked by traditions of friendship, mutual
sympathy and support that go back years. During these talks, we have again made
certain that our two countries intend to consistently promote a comprehensive
strategic partnership between us at all levels. Not so long ago, General
Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and
President of Vietnam Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong paid a very successful visit to
Russia, Russian Prime Minister is on a visit to Vietnam right now, and
parliamentary and party contacts and visits continue, all of which creates a
transparent fabric of relations between our countries.
Allow me to say a few words about the economy. About trade and economic cooperation.
The free trade agreement, which we signed with Vietnam (this was the
first such agreement) made it possible to increase trade to very significant
amounts. Last year, it grew by almost 30%, and it is growing well this year.
So, we will continue to pursue this course, we will continue to diversify the
trade pattern, we will increase the share of high-technology products, and we
will engage in all fields of cooperation – industry, infrastructure, transport,
communications and telecommunications. We will also work on developing ties in
the agro-industrial sector. We will continue practicing the use of national
currencies in payments within the context of foreign economic operations. All
these matters were on the agenda of the talks.
I would like to note in particular the cooperation between Russian and
Vietnamese energy companies. We hope that these ties will be strengthened. For
this, we will create favourable conditions for the implementation of joint
projects and new projects involving Gazprom, Rosneft, Zarubezhneft,
PetroVietnam, as well as other
companies.
It is of importance that, apart from the economy and politics, where we
traditionally have very good relations, the same can be said about ties between
people. Our two peoples have developed a sincere interest towards each other
and the history of our countries, and they seek to get to know each other. The
best manifestation of this is the growth of the outward-bound tourist flows, as
well as educational and humanitarian projects that permeate our cooperation
throughout decades. This level of mutual relationship and cooperation also
makes it possible to maintain regional ties. The Year of Russia in Vietnam and
the Year of Vietnam in Russia will be held next year. We are making
preparations for this event and I am confident that we will pay special
attention to this matter.
I
would like once again to thank my colleague Comrade Nguyen Xuan Phuc and all
our Vietnamese friends and colleagues for the friendly and constructive talks.
I am confident that they will serve to strengthen the Russian-Vietnamese
partnership. Thank you very much for your hospitality and the fine words about
the Russian delegation. Thank you!