Russia’s Pravda newspaper remarked Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to Russia as a historical milestone in bilateral relations in an article featuring the event.

The article, posted on November 21, quoted Leonid Kalashnikov, First Deputy Chairman of the Russia’s State Duma Committee for International Affairs and a representative of the Russia Communist Party at the State Duma, as stating that the time-honoured Vietnam-Russia relations are growing in all fields.

Leonid Kalashnikov cited Vietnam’s enthusiastic preparation for joining the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, the two countries’ organisation of various cultural events and exchanges, and the maintenance of visits by communist party officials.

The paper quoted Chairman of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association Vladimir Buyanov as saying that the two countries’ relations constitute the strategic comprehensive partnership and Russia always support developing ties with Vietnam in all areas.

Meanwhile, Anton Stvetov from the Russia International Affairs Council, said along with China and India, Vietnam is defined in President V. Putin’s decrees issued in May 2012 as a key partner of Russia.

However, he cited Putin’s words as saying that the two countries’ economic partnership has yet to match their political relations. Russia’s trade with Vietnam accounts for only 0.5 percent of its foreign trade while the country contributes only 1 percent of Vietnam’s trade revenue.

Ilya Usov, an independent expert, said the Vietnamese leader’s visit to Russia is significant for Russia and Vietnam since both are keen on garnering more outside support.

Alexandre Sokolovski, Director of the Vietnam Culture-Education Centre at the Far Eastern Federal University, said General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit is crucial for the continued expansion of Vietnam-Russia cooperation.

He said he believes that the Vietnam-Russia ties that stood the test of time will be growing further.

On November 22, the Euro Presse Image (EPI) news agency ran a story giving positive comments on the Party chief’s visit to Russia and Belarus from November 23-28.

The Vietnamese leader’s visit would contribute to fostering and deepening bilateral partnership in all areas, including politics, security, economics, science-technology, culture, education, tourism and aviation, said the article.

Particularly, the visit would pave the way for Vietnam to become the first partner to reach a free trade agreement with the Customs Unions of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus in 2015, it added.

On bilateral cooperation in energy, the article noted that joint projects in oil and gas are being effectively implemented in both Vietnam and Russia , benefiting both sides.

The two countries also agreed to continue collaboration in building and upgrading power plants in Vietnam, including the construction of the first ever nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan, it said.

European news agency spotlights Party leader’s Russia visit

The European news agency, Euro Presse Image (www.epi-agency.com), in a recent article, has positively assessed General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong’s ongoing visits to Russia and Belarus.

The article highlighted the fruitful cooperation and fast growth of the Vietnam-Russia strategic partnership over the years.  

The sound political relations with high reliability continue to be strengthened through exchange visits at all levels, thus providing a foundation for expanded cooperation in other fields.

The visit aims to vigorously promote and deepen the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership in such fields as politics, security, economics, science- technology, culture, education, tourism and aviation.

Particularly, Party General Secretary Trong’s trip will create a premise for Vietnam to become the first partner signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Customs Union of Russia - Kazakhstan - Belarus in 2015, the article said.

Regarding the bilateral energy cooperation, it confirmed oil and gas projects are being implemented effectively in Vietnam and Russia, bringing major and stable sources of revenue to both nations.

The two sides have also agreed on continued cooperation in the construction and modernization of power plants in Vietnam, including the first nuclear power plant in southern Ninh Thuan province.

Concerning the external relations, the article said Vietnam and Russia share many similarities and closeness in most important regional and international issues.

Both countries have maintained close cooperation mechanisms, coordination and mutual support within the framework of international forums, especially at the United Nations (UN), contributing to the protection of national interests of each country as well as enhancing the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his high-level delegation are on working visits to Russia and Belarus from November 23-28.