Moscow (VNA) – Vietnam and Russia issued a 40-point joint statement on the officialvisit to Russia by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)’sCentral Committee Nguyen Phu Trong from September 5-8, made at theinvitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The joint statement highlighted Vietnam-Russiarelations, regional and international issues, and the discussion points betweenthe two countries’ leaders.

During his trip, the Vietnamese Partyleader held talks with President Putin and met Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Chairmanof the State Duma of Russia Vyacheslav Volodin,and Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of Russia AndreyTurchak.

He laid wreaths at the Tomb of the UnknownSoldier, the Vladimir IlyichLenin Mausoleum, and the Statue of President Ho Chi Minh in Moscow. He also attendeda ceremony to celebrate the 60th founding anniversary of the Russia-Vietnam FriendshipAssociation as well as meetings with Russian veterans and experts who haveworked in Vietnam, and visited Kaluga province.

During the talks and meetings, leaders of the two countries discussed how tofurther develop the Vietnam-Russia friendship and all-round cooperation, as wellas international and regional issues of their common concern.

General Secretary Trong and President Putin affirmed the consistent policy ofstrengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countriesin order to meet the long-term interests of their peoples, and agreed on theimportance of maintaining joint efforts to promote cooperation in all areas.

The two sides highly valued the regular and substantial political dialogue, acrosschannels from the National Assembly, Government, ministerial and sectorial levels,localities, political parties and social organisations.

The two leaders emphasised thesignificance of the thorough preparation of activities for the Vietnam Year inRussia and the Russia Year in Vietnam, taking place in 2019, which are hoped tocontribute to promoting bilateral cooperation across many sectors.

The two sides expressed their satisfaction with the development of defence-securityand military cooperation, the field that holds a special role in the Vietnam-Russiarelationship, while affirming their determination to consolidate and expandties in these fields in the spirit of a comprehensive strategic partnership, onthe basis of international law and laws of each country.

Both sides highly appreciated the coordination role of the Vietnam-RussiaIntergovernmental Committee on military technical cooperation and the DefenceStrategic Dialogue mechanism at the deputy ministerial level between the twocountries’ defence ministries.

The leaders stressed the need forradical efforts to boost economic and trade cooperation, firstly overcoming anycurrent problems, improving the cooperation mechanism, and effectively implementingthe Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union aswell as its member nations, signed on May 29, 2015, as well as other documents betweenVietnam and Russia, towards creating a breakthrough in bilateral trade andinvestment collaboration.

They highly valued the important role played by the Vietnam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee for Economic, Commercial, Scientific and TechnologicalCooperation, and its working groups in promoting cooperation, whileemphasising the importance of improving the performance of the committee, includingcoordinating to supervise the implementation of agreements reached between thetwo countries, and identifying new priorities for cooperation, focusing on cooperativeprojects with a high technology content.

The two sides highlighted the need to improve the effectiveness of activitiesof the Vietnam-Russia Senior Working Group on priority investment projects inorder to develop and implement projects in the fields of industry andelectrical energy; mining and mineral processing; agriculture; information andtelecommunications; and urban and transport infrastructure in localities allover of Vietnam.

They asserted their determination to expand cooperation in building a nuclearscience and technology centre in Vietnam, as well as training Vietnamesestudents in Russia, who are pursuing subjects related to the use of atomicenergy for peaceful purposes.

The two sides agreed that in the case that Vietnam restarts its plan to buildthe national atomic energy sector, Russia will be considered a priority partnerin this field.

Both sides applauded and highlyappreciated the implementation of joint projects in the field of oil and gas,affirming to continue creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese and Russianenterprises to expand their operations in the field in the territory of bothnations.

The leaders agreed to expand theexploration and exploitation of oil and gas on the continental shelf ofVietnam, in accordance with international law such as the United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS 1982).

The two sides emphasised prospectsfor their cooperation in power energy, especially the advantages of Russianfirms participating in Vietnamese projects on the modernisation and rebuildingof old energy facilities.

The Vietnamese Party leader and the Russian President agreed on measures to fostercollaboration on motor vehicle manufacturing.

The two leaders acknowledged the need to reinforce cooperation inagriculture, aquaculture, forestry, agricultural support industry, irrigation,and disaster prevention; and agreed that the removal of technical barriers andthe uniform application of food safety standards will pave the wave for Vietnameseagricultural, aquatic, forestry, and pharmaceutical products to enter Russiaand vice versa, as well as boost bilateral trade.

They stressed the need to improve and diversify cooperation in bankingand finance, and showed common interest in strengthening collaboration inscience-technology and education-training. They highly valued the effectiveoperation of the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Centre (VRCT) and agreed to expandcooperation within this centre for the benefit of both sides.

The two sides agreed to foster partnership in the use of airspace forpeaceful purposes and work together to deploy and develop Russia’s global spacesatellite navigation system GLONASS.

They welcomed the strong promotion of people-to-people exchange betweenthe two countries, including the regular organisation of Cultural Days of eachcountry and the increase in Vietnamese tourist arrivals in Russia and vice versa.

They highly spoke of bright prospects for cooperation between Vietnam’scities and provinces with those in Russia, Siberia, and the Far East inmultiple fields, particularly agriculture, light industry, and tourism.

The two leaders took common stances on major regional and global issuesand shared determination to push for a multipolar international system withenhanced equality and democracy based on the wide cooperation and uniformregulations for all nations, the rule of law, and the central role of theUnited Nations.

Vietnam and Russia agreed that international security should becomprehensive and indivisible, based on the principle that a country cannotachieve security with acts detrimental to others’, including the expansion ofregional and global political and military alliances.

Both sides endorsed equality between nations, respect for sovereigntyand territorial integrity, and the principle of non-intervention in theinternal affairs of other states and non-use of force and threat to use force.They opposed the performance of unilateral acts or the imposition of economicembargos that run counter to international law and overlook the role of the UNSecurity Council.

They are ready to coordinate closely within the framework of the UNSecurity Council in keeping peace and improving its effectiveness, and willcontinue supporting each other’s candidacy for seats at regional andinternational organisations.

The two countries looked forward to continued bilateral and multilateralcooperation to combat the increasing threat of high-tech crimes and terrorism,and urged for the concerted efforts of the international community to fightterrorism, including terrorist financing, transnational terrorism, and thedissemination of terrorist ideology and propaganda. They do not accept issuesrelating to terrorism as an excuse to take advantage and intervene in anothercountry’s internal affairs.

Vietnam and Russia affirmed their desire to expandcooperation in fighting terrorism, organised transnational crime, drugsmuggling, corruption, as well as challenges posing a threat to security.

Trong applauded Russia’s efforts to combat terrorismand seek a political solution to the Syria crisis on the basis of internationallaw and the United Nations Charter, while the Russian side confirmed itswillingness to help Vietnam in participating in the UN’s peacekeeping missions.

Both sides emphasised the necessity of closecooperation and coordination at multilateral forums where international securityissues – including arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation of nuclearweapons – can be discussed.

The two countries committed to obeying a policy of notbeing the first party to deploy weapons in airspace, and called for otherparties with airspace potential to do the same.

They showed their backing for the internationalcommunity’s efforts to strengthen the legal framework in the fight againstterrorism and the use of weapons of mass destruction, as well as ensuring thefull implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development,Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons, and their Destruction.

The leaders affirmed their hopes to strengthencooperation in effectively implementing the 2030 Agenda on SustainableDevelopment, and stressed the importance of expanding regional economiccooperation and coordination in the fields of transport, energy, and tradewithin the framework of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and thePacific.

They also stressed their determination to maintaincollaboration to promote and protect human rights through regional andinternational organisations on the basis of the UN Charter and internationallaw, while agreeing to develop equal cooperation and mutual respect toimplement the two countries’ international missions in protecting human rights.

Border and territorial disputes and other disputes inthe Asia-Pacific region should be addressed by peaceful means, while not usingor threatening to use violence on the basis of international law, to ensurepeace, stability, and security in the region, they said, adding that the twocountries back the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on theConduct of Parties in the East Sea 2002 and welcome the relevant parties’efforts to soon adopt a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

The leaders confirmed that maintaining peace andstability and strengthening mutual trust are core factors to ensure stabledevelopment in the Asia-Pacific region. They also affirmed their support forthe consolidation of ASEAN’s central role in the region.

Vietnam pledged to back efforts by ASEAN and Russia tobuild the Russia-ASEAN strategic partnership following an agreement reached atthe Russia-ASEAN Summit in Sochi in May 2016, and expand collaboration intrade, investment, science, technology, energy, culture, and agriculture; inensuring peace and stability in the region; and in fighting terrorism andtransnational crime.

Both emphasised their desire to establish a win-winrelationship between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), whileacknowledging the importance of increasing the role and position of theAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, according to the statement.

The statement also affirmed that the official visit toRussia by the Vietnamese Party leader will act as a new driving force for thetwo countries’ strategic partnership.

At the end of the talks, Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong and PresidentVladimir Putin witnessed the signing of agreements between the two countriesand their businesses. –VNA