General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong’s forthcoming visit to Russia starting on November 23 is designed to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation.
Following is the gist of the interview:
Reporter: Could you tell us about what you expect from the upcoming official visit to Russia and what issues you want to discuss with President Vladimir Putin and other leaders?
Mr Trong: The Vietnam- Russia time-honoured friendship with longstanding history was founded President Ho Chi Minh and nurtured by many generations of leaders and people of both countries.
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| Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong |
The Vietnamese people are forever grateful to the people of the Soviet Union, including the Russian people for their considerable and valuable support for us in the past struggle for national liberation and the current national construction process.
Over the past years, the Vietnam-Russia relations have seen new steps of development and my upcoming visit takes place in the context of a rapidly developing comprehensive strategic partnership.
President Vladimir Putin and I along with other Russian leaders are about to discuss and evaluate activities of bilateral cooperation in recent times, with a focus on reviewing the implementation of high-level agreements and the progress of carrying out major projects.
We will exchange views on major orientations and specific measures to step up bilateral cooperation in various realms from politics to economics, trade, investment, energy, oil and gas, nuclear power security and defence.
Our discussions will be also concentrated on local cooperation, international and regional issues of shared concern, coordination on the international arena, the Vietnamese community in Russia and people-to-people exchange.
I believe that the results to be achieved in this visit will add fresh impetus to stimulating the stronger growth of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia, improving the quality and efficiency of bilateral cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples and making practical contributions to peace and prosperity in the region and the world.
Reporter: What is your assessment of the role and mechanisms for regular contacts and dialogues between leaders for pushing up the strategic partnership between the two nations?
Mr. Trong: In the overall foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, multilateralization, diversification and international integration of Vietnam, we have always regarded Russia as one of our reliable partners of paramount importance.
Since the establishment of a strategic partnership in 2001 and a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2012, bilateral relations have blossomed and experienced substantial and vigorous growth.
Both countries have reached a consensus on the need to increase contacts, exchanges and dialogues more frequently at all levels within the framework of bilateral relations and multilateral forums in order to propose measures for relations enhancement.
The regular dialogues between senior leaders have helped deepen the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership and consolidate political trust and the relationship between the two States, the two governments as well as the two legislative bodies.
Reporter: The two countries are preparing for the celebration of 65 years of diplomatic ties in early 2015. In your opinion, what areas have Vietnam and Russia achieved most in the comprehensive strategic partnership and what are untapped potential areas?
Mr Trong: In addition to the constantly enhanced political relations with high reliability, bilateral cooperation in economics - trade, energy, security - defence, education - training, science – technology and culture between the two countries have grown considerably and gained important results.
Bilateral trade volume impressively jumped to nearly US$4 billion in 2013 from just modest figures of US$300-400 million in the 90s of the 20th century.
In the oil sector, besides the "pioneer" Russian-Vietnamese Oil and Gas joint venture (VietsoPetro), there have been additional three new joint ventures operating effectively in Vietnam, namely Rusvietpetro, Vietgazprom and Gazpromviet.
Energy continues to be an area of traditional cooperation in the future. Vietnam is actively implementing Ninh Thuan I nuclear power plant construction project with the help and support from the Russian Federation in terms of capital, technology and human resources.
Outstanding results have been achieved in expanded cooperation in a multitude of fields like mining, metallurgy, education - training, science – technology and outer space.
The two sides set up a high-level working group to work on prioritized investment projects aiming to carry bilateral cooperation forward.
They have organized regular cultural exchanges to expand tourism cooperation as Russia is on the list of the 10 countries having the highest number of travellers to Vietnam.
The Vietnam –Russia relations are developing well but still far below their full potential and desire of both parties.
In the coming time, the two sides should continue to focus on comprehensive affiliation in all fields, from political and external relations to economic cooperation based on the three pillars- trade, investment and energy. Cooperation in science – technology, education - education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchange should be elevated to new heights in line with development needs of each country thus providing a foundation for fostering the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Reporter: As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and a close friend of Russia, in what area can Vietnam realise to support the expansion of relations between Russia and ASEAN?
Mr Trong: Vietnam has actively collaborated to help the Russian Federation became a dialogue partner of ASEAN. Also from its traditional friendship with Russia, Vietnam was selected as the first coordinator of the regional bloc and Russia (1996-1997). As a coordinator, Vietnam spared no efforts to promote dialogue relations and cooperation between ASEAN and Russia in late 20th century.
Vietnam has been promoting dialogue relations and cooperation between the regional grouping and Russia within the cooperation mechanism framework managed by ASEAN.
Specifically, in the Year of ASEAN Chair 2010, Vietnam hosted and co-chaired the second ASEAN-Russia Summit during which, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further enhance the comprehensive partnership and the progress of ASEAN and Russia, and improve the existing dialogue mechanisms to lift relations to a higher level.
ASEAN countries have consented to support Russian participation in related regional forums, including the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus).
Russia attended the fifth EAS in 2010 in Vietnam as a guest and officially joined other meetings in 2011.
Vietnam is currently working hand in hand with Russia and ASEAN states to prepare for the 20th anniversary of the ASEAN-Russia dialogue partnership.
Our country will continue to join hands with ASEAN countries to spur the ASEAN-Russia comprehensive development and fully utilize advantages of each other as a contribution to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.
Vietnam is willing to serve as a bridge between ASEAN and Russia towards a common voice on important regional and international issues, primarily those directly affecting mutual benefit of both parties for the maintenance of peace, security and stability in the region, including the East Sea issue.
The country together with ASEAN states and Russia will pinpoint limitations in bilateral cooperation in a bid to find solutions for developing the ASEAN-Russia relations in a more substantial and effective manner.
Reporter: Thank you very much.
