Vietnam requested Russia to increase rice import quota

During President Vladimir Putin's official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on the afternoon of June 20, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the President.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed President Putin's official visit to Vietnam, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Treaty on Basic Principles of Vietnam-Russia Friendly Relationship. He commended the significant achievements made by the Russian people under President Putin's leadership, and expressed confidence in President Putin's continued support for Vietnam and the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The Prime Minister affirmed Vietnam's deep appreciation for the profound support and assistance provided by the people of the former Soviet Union and today's Russia in its past struggle for national independence and reunification, as well as in the current nation-building and defense efforts.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hopes that both countries can continue to closely coordinate, create new momentum for traditional friendly relationship and multifaceted cooperation, and promptly address difficulties to promote bilateral cooperation across various fields, including economic-trade, investment, and international integration. He expects this cooperation to further strengthen the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership framework.

President Putin expressed gratitude for the warm and respectful reception extended by the leaders and people of Vietnam during his stay. He emphasized that Vietnam is a friend and trusted partner of the Russian Federation. He remarked that the bilateral relations between both countries have stood the test of time, and achieved numerous positive results including reinforced political-diplomatic relations with high-level exchanges; positive trade growth; successful investment projects in both countries; and strengthened cultural, educational, scientific-technological, and people-to-people exchanges.

Expressing admiration for Vietnam's socio-economic development achievements and its international integration efforts, President Putin affirmed that his visit is an important opportunity for both countries to discuss and reach an agreement on measures to strengthen cooperation in various fields, particularly in economic trade, science and technology, energy, people-to-people exchanges, and the humanities, thereby enhancing the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

He also expressed satisfaction with the rapidly growing political trust between the two countries, which serves as a foundation for promoting cooperation in other fields, including bilateral trade recovering and development amidst global economic difficulties; expanding energy-oil cooperation; and shifting focus towards cooperation in science and technology, education and training, tourism, local connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges.

With the aim of promoting economic cooperation as a pillar of the comprehensive strategic partnership, both parties agreed to enhance the effectiveness of their bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the need to fully utilize the advantages of the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement. Accordingly, he proposed Russia to continue to removing trade barriers and facilitate bilateral trade activities, with a focus on the export of Vietnamese consumer goods and key agricultural, aquatic products to the Russian market. Additionally, he requested Russia to increase the quota for Vietnamese rice export, and support the access of Russian agricultural products to the Vietnamese market.

Regarding investment, President Putin supported Vietnam's proposal to promptly implement several Russia-funded large-scale flagship projects in infrastructure, railways, urban railways, metro systems, and renewable energy in Vietnam, thereby encouraging businesses from both countries to effectively expand and promote investment, operations on each other's territory.

With oil and energy cooperation as a pillar of Vietnam-Russia economic cooperation, the Prime Minister suggested both countries to closely coordinate and promptly resolve challenges in order to enhance the efficiency of oil and gas exploration and extraction projects. He further affirmed that Vietnam is ready to facilitate the activities of the Vietsovpetro Joint Venture and Russian oil companies such as Zarubezhneft and Gazprom in Vietnam.

President Putin agreed with Vietnam's proposal to facilitate the operations of the Rusvietpetro joint venture, and encourage Vietnamese businesses to expand their activities in Russia. Both parties supported the expansion of cooperation into new energy, clean energy, and renewable energy sectors, such as offshore wind power, to contribute to sustainable development goals.

The two leaders agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in science and technology, information and communications, culture, sports, tourism, and labor. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested both countries to negotiate and implement agreements on transport and maritime trade to promote connectivity and enhance trade, investment; increase aviation connectivity; establish agreements on travel conditions for citizens from either country, and agreements to recruit skilled Vietnamese labor to Russia, thereby promoting people-to-people exchanges and tourism cooperation.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President Putin support the enhancement of Vietnamese and Russian language teaching with the establishment of cultural centers. The Prime Minister proposed Russia to support the training of Vietnamese athletes in sports where Russia excels, such as gymnastics and chess. Additionally, Vietnam and Russia aim to promptly initiate negotiations and sign new agreements on labor and vocational training, which is a traditional area of cooperation between the two countries.

The two leaders acknowledged the positive contributions of their citizens living, working, and studying in each other's countries to strengthening the traditional friendly relationship and promoting cooperation between Vietnam and Russia. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also requested Russian leaders and authorities at all levels to create a favorable environment for the Vietnamese community to live and work legally, stably in Russia.