Vietnam and Russia hold great potential for bilateral cooperation based on time-honoured relations, said Grigory Trofimchuk, head of the expert council of the Eurasian ideas foundation. 

Grigory Trofimchuk, head of the expert council of the Eurasian ideas foundation at the interview

He made the statement during an interview with the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of President Tran Dai Quang’s official visit to Russia from June 28-July 1.

The two countries have elevated their relations to comprehensive strategic partnership, he noted, adding that the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which took effect in last October, has helped accelerate Vietnam - Russia trade and investment ties.

According to Trofimchuk, boosting bilateral trade must be a cooperation priority between the two countries. 

The Vietnamese and Russian markets are home to 100 million and 140 million people, respectively, but two-way trade remains at only 3 billion USD. The two countries’ leaders have set a goal of 10 billion USD in bilateral trade by 2020.

The expert said the target is possible with the formation of the Vietnam – EAEU free trade area.

The point is how both nations remove barriers for and facilitate their respective enterprises, he suggested, revealing that the Russian side pays special attention to opportunities and challenges facing Vietnamese and Russian small- and medium-sized firms in accessing each other’s market.

He highlighted President Tran Dai Quang’s visit to Russia as an important political event to strengthen the traditional relations, with expectation that cooperation pacts signed as part of the visit would significantly stimulate Vietnam – Russia partnership.

According to Trofimchuk, his expert council will held a roundtable discussion seeking measures to make the comprehensive strategic partnership more effective.

President Tran Dai Quang’s Russia visit consolidates mutual trust

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son has highlighted the significance of President Tran Dai Quang’s official visit to Russia from June 28-July 1, saying it is to affirm sustainable cooperation between the two countries based on mutual trust.

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.  

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-honoured 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, emphasised the ambassador. 

Scholar: Vietnam, Russia should further enhance economic ties

Vietnam and Russia should further enhance economic ties to match with their potential, said a Russian scholar.

Professor Vladimir N Kolotov, Head of the Far East History Department - St. Petersburg State University, made the suggestion in a recent interview with Vietnam News Agency reporters on the occasion of President Tran Dai Quang’s visit to Russia.

President Tran Dai Quang is visiting Russia to boost relations with Vietnam

He said Vietnam and Russia are comprehensive strategic partners and more importantly the two countries boast a long-standing friendship. Vietnam and Russia have sound political relations and share similar viewpoints on international affairs.

However, bilateral economic ties have yet to live up to expectations, said Prof. Kolotov, who is also Director of the Ho Chi Minh Institute.

The two sides need to exert more efforts to disseminate accurate information on the development situation in their respective countries and around the world, he said.

Few Russian people know how Vietnam has developed strongly in recent years, with remarkable economic accomplishments, he elaborated.

Therefore, the visit to Russia by President Tran Dai Quang is an important event in the two countries’ relations, he said.

The scholar pinned high hope on the visit and expected Vietnamese and Russian leaders will seek measures to propel bilateral relations forward.

VNA