Hanoi (VNA) – As part of its foreign policy, Vietnam has always andwill continue to consider Russia a reliable and leading partner, said GeneralSecretary of the Communist Party Central Committee (CPVCC) and President NguyenPhu Trong at a reception for visiting Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev inHanoi on November 19.

The top leader affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State, and people havemaintained great attention towards consolidating and developing thecomprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.

He expressed his wish that Russia would enhance collaboration with SoutheastAsian nations and improve its role and position in the Asia-Pacific region.

He stressed that Vietnam welcomes Russian businesses and will continue tocreate favourable conditions for them to engage in key projects in Vietnam inthe fields of energy, transport, and oil and gas.

The Party and State leader suggested the Russian Government actively coordinatewith its Vietnamese counterpart to remove difficulties for economic-trade andinvestment cooperation and effectively implement large-scale joint projectsagreed at the recent 21st session of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-GovernmentCommittee.

For his part, PM Medvedev, who is also head of the ruling United Russia Party, assertedthat his country has always paid heed to fostering its comprehensive strategicpartnership with Vietnam, considering the country its leading partner inSoutheast Asia.

Informing the host of the outcome of his talks with Prime Minister Nguyen XuanPhuc, Medvedev said the two governments will coordinate closely with each otherto organise activities throughout 2019 as the two nations celebrate the 25thanniversary of the signing of the treaty on the fundamental principles ofVietnam-Russia friendship and prepare for the 70th founding anniversary ofbilateral diplomatic ties in 2020.

Russia and Vietnam will realise the agreements reached during CPVCC GeneralSecretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to Russia last September.

Regarding the relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the UnitedRussia Party, the leaders said they are pleased with the development of theties over the past time, saying the relationship through the Party channel isan important political foundation to bolster the two countries’ bonds.

They agreed to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two partiesin the time ahead, including the continued implementation of the politicaldialogue mechanism and their cooperation plan for 2018-2021. –VNA