Security and defence cooperation is a pillar building up the comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and Vietnam, stressed Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong at a talk with Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation in Hanoi on March 17 .

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong (R) and Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation (L). Photo: VNA

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong wished two countries would continue to further extend their collaboration in traditional and non-traditional security issues for mutual interest of the two peoples as well as for the sake of peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

Patrushev’s visit to Vietnam was of great importance, following the activities commemorating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Russia (1950-2020), especially after the successful organization of the 13th National Party Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, right, is gifting a Vietnamese speciality to Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

On the same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. The Vietnamese leader stressed that the two sides need to make efforts to remove obstacles in order to soon implement slow-progressing projects. 

Russia and Vietnam should pay attention to take advantage of the free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) for economic, trade and investment development, Phuc said. 

“The fact that two-way trade turnover in 2020 reached around US$4.9 billion, a strong boost compared to 2019 is a great success,” he said.

“The two countries’ relations should have a stronger breakthrough in both economic, security and defense fields in the coming time.”

For his part, Patrushev proposed that the Vietnamese government create favorable conditions for Russian businesses in gas exploration projects, engine production, and investment in the construction of power plants. 

Russia is ready to support Vietnam in the fight against money laundering and terrorism, Patrushev said.