National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (left) and Chairman of the State Duma of Russia Vyacheslav V. Volodin on December 11 co-chair the first meeting of the inter-parliamentary cooperation committee.

Both sides said they are determined to play a part in fostering the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership and agreed on the importance of common measures to develop more practical cooperation in potential areas.

They agreed that bilateral ties have grown strongly in recent years in the fields of politics, economy, trade, investment, defence and security, science and technology, culture and tourism, and emphasised that promoting multi-faceted relations is in the interests of the two countries’ people.

The leaders spoke highly of the exchange of parliamentary experience during the implementation of international conventions attended by Vietnam and Russia.

They affirmed the parliament’s significant role in enhancing the comprehensive strategic partnership, particularly strengthening the legal basis for the bilateral relations. They expressed their willingness to facilitate the implementation of the two countries’ agreements in order to boost bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, investment and performance of businesses from both sides.

The top legislators stressed the importance of close coordination between the two sides at international parliamentary organisations, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, meetings with dialogue partners at the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments and the International Forum “Development of Parliamentarism.”

They also agreed to step up coordination at regional and global forums.

The Vietnamese side voiced its support for Russian initiatives in developing parliamentarism and promoting multilateral cooperation among legislative bodies.

The two sides showed their determination to boost bilateral multi-faceted partnerships on the basis of equality, adherence to international rules, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs for peace, stability and sustainable development.

They exchanged broad views on common steps which must be taken to bolster bilateral cooperation in education and training, culture and tourism, exchange between localiies, defence and security.

They also reached a concensus on expanding exchange of information and applicable legal documents in emerging areas such as the digital economy, cyber management and high technology, among others.

The two sides agreed to schedule the committee’s second meeting in Vietnam in 2020./.

Vietnam a reliable partner of Russia: State Duma Chairman

Vietnam is a reliable partner of Russia, affirmed Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vycheslav Volodin while co-chairing the first meeting of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committeetogether with Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan in Moscow on December 11.

Speaking at the event, Vycheslav Volodin noted that Russia and Vietnam shared a traditional friendship as well as a trustworthy and close partnership.

Noting that leaders from both sides have maintained regular meetings, he held that along with government channel, other cooperation models are available to boost bilateral collaboration.

He underlined the need to promote their economic partnership as the two sides have yet to reach the goal of 10 billion USD in two-way trade. In 2018, the figure was 6 billion USD, and is likely to be lower in 2019.

He suggested that participants at the meeting seek ways to remove obstacles to facilitate bilateral trade ties, including the speeding up of investment projects in each country.

Members of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee should review the outcomes of collaboration between the two countries and seek measures for stronger ties, while focusing more on cooperation in the digital economy and other specific economic areas, along with education-training and culture, he said.

He noted that Vietnam ranks third among countries sending students to Russia, while the Southeast Asian country is becoming increasingly attractive to Russian tourists. In 2019 and 2020, the two countries have organised the Vietnam Year in Russia and Russia Year in Vietnam.

Russian firms hope to engage deeper in efforts to developbilateral economic relations, he said.

The leader of the Russian State Duma expressed his hope that during the meeting, the two sides will discuss measures to remove obstacles hindering the implementation of joint projects and create an optimal business environment for enterprises from both sides.

He also stressed the need for the two legislative bodies to bolster cooperation.

For her part, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said that the establishment of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in December 2018 during her visit to Russia was an important milestone in the partnership between the Vietnamese NA and the State Duma of Russia.

So far, the two sides have conducted various activities to exchange experience and coordinate at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums, especially Asia-Europe cooperation mechanisms as well as the implementation of international conventions of which both countries are signature parties.

The first meeting of the committee is a chance for parliamentarians of Vietnam and Russia to review the outcomes of their cooperation over the years, evaluate the role of the two parliaments in fostering Vietnam-Russia ties in all fields, and discuss future cooperation orientations.She proposed that Vietnam will host the next meeting of the committee.

The top legislator agreed with Volodin’s idea that at the next meeting, the two sides will form working groups for discussion of different issues.

She expressed her pleasure at the fruitful partnership between Vietnam and Russia over the past 70 years, but pointed out that two-way trade has yet to meet their target. She stressed the need to expand bilateral trade ties to match the potential of both sides.

Currently, Russia ranks 24th out of 132 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 129 valid projects. Meanwhile, Vietnam is running 15 projects in Russia with total investment of 2.83 billion USD, making Russia the second biggest destination for Vietnamese investors abroad.

Bilaterally, the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee is the highest parliamentary cooperation mechanism and the first that Vietnam has set up with another country.

Ngan said she believes that the meeting will help complete a legal corridor to boost the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership./.VNA