Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held phone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 5, during which the leaders informed each other about recent major affairs and achievements of the two nations.

Trong told Putin about the outcomes of CPV’s 13th National Congress, Vietnam’s progress after 35 years of national reform, as well as the country’s visions, targets and orientations for future development, among others.

Expressing his gratitude toward Russia’s support for Vietnam, Trong stated that CPV and the state have always valued the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia. He hoped the bilateral ties would grow fruitfully for the sake of the two countries’ peoples, in contribution to regional and global peace and development.

For his part, Putin congratulated Trong on his re-election as General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee for the 13th tenure and Nguyen Xuan Phuc on his election as state president.

Both leaders stressed that Vietnam-Russia relations had been thriving in almost all fields and that the sides would continue taking specific measures to foster their cooperation in security, defence, energy, oil and gas, economy, trade, education and training, and tourism.

They laid special emphasis on further collaboration in Covid-19 prevention and control via mutual support regarding vaccine research and production.

The leaders shared a common stance on the need of building healthy international relationships of mutual respect, friendship, equality, mutually beneficial cooperation; and settling disagreements through dialogues and peaceful measures in the current international context.

Vietnam and Russia would continue to collaborate more effectively at regional and international forums for peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific and the world, they said.

The Vietnamese party chief took the occasion to invite Putin to officially visit Vietnam this year and attend the closing ceremony of the Vietnam Year in Russia and the Russia Year in Vietnam. The Russian president accepted the invitation with pleasure.

VIET NAM NEWS/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK