Hanoi (VNA) – Presidentof the Federal Council of Russia Valentina Ivanovna Matvienko has stated thatRussia pays heed to further strengthening friendship and cooperation betweenthe two legislatures of Russia and Vietnam.

She made the statement during talkswith National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan right after the welcomeceremony in Hanoi on February 21.

Matvienko expressed her delight atthe maintenance of regular political dialogues at all levels, particularly atparliamentary, ministry and agency levels.

According to her, both sides made anumber of important commitments during Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’sofficial visit to Russia in May 2016, as well as a meeting between the Vietnameseand Russian Presidents on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Peru in late2016, which she said, have laid down orientations to the development ofbilateral ties.

Russia treasures the development ofbilateral economic and investment ties, she stated, adding that Vietnam hasbecome the first country to sign a free trade agreement with the EurasianEconomic Union (EEU), opening a new opportunity to accelerate economic-tradelinks and facilitate Vietnam’s access to goods from EEU and vice versa.

Positive results have also beenrecorded in cultural cooperation as Vietnam Cultural Days were regularlylaunched in Russia as were Russian Cultural Days in Vietnam. Over 300,000Russians visited Vietnam in 2016, and the figure will rise in the future.

Hailing partnership between the twocountries’ localities as an effective cooperation channel, Matvienko suggested thefriendship parliamentarian organisations of the two nations make a report onthe efficiency of their joint work.

On education-training, more than50,000 Vietnamese experts have so far been trained in Russia, which alsoconsiders increasing scholarships to Vietnamese students. Last year, Russiaoffered 1,000 State scholarships to Vietnamese students, ahead of the 2018deadline.

NA Chairwoman Ngan, for her part,reiterated that Vietnam always prioritises reinforcing and developing thecomprehensive strategic partnership with Russia and wished to enhance effectivecoordination between the two countries, legislatures and localities.

Speaking highly of mutual support atmultilateral forums, especially at the United Nations, Ngan asked Russia toback Vietnam’s bid to run for a seat at the United Nations Security Council for2020-2021, and expressed her appreciation for joint actions between the twoparliaments at international parliamentary forum, including the Inter-ParliamentaryUnion and other forums.

She shared her view with her guestthat two-way trade is growing robustly towards the targeted 10 billion USD by2020. Both sides have worked effectively together in diverse areas, especiallyin energy and oil and gas.

The Vietnamese leader thanked the Russianlaw-making body for adopting a memorandum of understanding on oil and gascooperation to facilitate the operation of the joint venture betweenVietsovPetro and RusvietPetro.

Both sides agreed that the regularexchange of delegations between the Vietnamese NA and the Federal Council ofRussia will make it easier for furthering the bilateral ties. The twolegislatures will create more favourable conditions to expand ties acrossenergy, oil and gas, agriculture, industry and tourism while intensifying thesupervision of cooperation agreement realization.

Vietnam supports Russia’s active involvementin projects in the country, Ngan said, adding that she agreed with Matvienko’sproposal to review signed and adopted agreements and issue a document toeffectively realise the FTA between Vietnam and the EEU.

The two countries’ friendshipparliamentary groups will be assigned to oversee the implementation of signedagreements.

She proposed the Russian legislatureback the signing of an agreement on food safety control between the twogovernments, making it easier for Vietnamese firms to export agro-fisheries productsto Russia.

The NA Chairwoman wished forincreased bilateral collaboration across national defence-security,education-training, science-technology, culture-tourism and fields of Russia’sstrength and Vietnam’s demand.

On the occasion, she expressed thanksto and wished the Russian government would continue offering assistance to Vietnamesenationals in the host country.

Following the talks, host and guestmet the press to inform the outcomes of their discussions. They confirmed theirdetermination to unceasingly strengthen and step up the relations between theVietnamese National Assembly and the Federal Council of Russia.

In the morning the same day, Matvienkolaid a wreath at a monument dedicated to heroic martyrs on Bac Son street andpaid tribute to the late President Ho Chi Minh President at his mausoleum.

In the afternoon the same day, Nganhosted a banquet in honour of the guest and her entourage.-VNA