Delegates at the event. Photo: Russian Center of Science and Culture in Hanoi

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu and President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga attended the event.

Speaking at the event, head of the NA’s Committee for Science, Technology and Environment and head of the Vietnam – Russia Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group Phan Xuan Dung stressed the gathering is a chance to recall the tradition of bilateral ties as well as the warm sentiments and contributions of the Soviet Union in the past and Russia at present toward the Vietnamese people.

Russia is now a comprehensive strategic partner of Vietnam and the ties between the two legislatures have kept growing over the past years through maintaining sideline meetings, mutual consultation and support in issues of shared interest at regional and global inter-parliamentary forums.

Via meetings, delegations of the two legislatures pledged to realise signed agreements towards further developing bilateral friendship and coordination, as well as maintaining close liaison at regional and global forums, he added.

Performance at the meeting. Photo: Russian Center of Science and Culture in Hanoi

Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Konstantin Vnukov expressed his respect for the long-standing ties between the two countries.

Since 1991, Vietnam and Russia have signed over 80 cooperation documents, including the treaty on basic principles for the bilateral friendship.

Two-way trade reached 4.5 billion USD in 2018, up nearly 30 percent as compared with 2017, making Vietnam the biggest trade partner of Russia in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Apart from oil and gas, Russia is running 123 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects worth about 1 billion USD in other fields in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Vietnamese firms have invested in 20 projects valued at nearly 3 billion USD in Russia.

The diplomat said Russia will celebrate the 75^th anniversary of victory over fascism and the 70^th anniversary of Vietnam – Russia diplomatic ties in 2020 with practical activities.

He vowed to stand ready to support Vietnam in every area, especially external work in the near future./.