Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh at the event (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Chernyshenko co-chaired the annual 23rd meeting of the Vietnam – Russia Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic, Trade, and Scientific-Technological Cooperation via videoconference on October 29.

Both sides reviewed the implementation of the 22nd meeting’s minutes and discussed orientations and measures to further improve the efficiency of bilateral cooperation, towards the 10th anniversary of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership (2012-2022).

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, bilateral political exchanges, especially those at high level, have been maintained via videoconference. Trade between the two sides still grew at an encouraging pace while joint works across energy, oil and gas, industry, and agriculture remained effective.

The two leaders suggested expanding cooperation into promising fields such as anti-pandemic, banking, or renewable energy.

Thanh affirmed that Vietnam wishes to further enhance cooperation with Russia and stays ready to offer all possible support to the two countries’ energy, oil and gas firms. He agreed to step up a project on nuclear science and technology research centres, and other cooperation fields.

Chernyshenko, for his part, described Vietnam as a top significant partner of Russia in Asia-Pacific, especially in Southeast Asia.

He stressed that Russia wishes to further deepen ties in fields of potential and demand. He also pledged to further promote the efficiency of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union.

Concluding the meeting, the two deputy PMs signed the minutes of the meeting and agreed that the next meeting will be held in Vietnam next year.

Vietnam, Russia Boost Cooperation in Different Spheres Leaders of Vietnam and Russia have always supported and facilitated the bilateral defence and military-technical cooperation.

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Vietnam, Russia aim to soon lift bilateral trade to USD10 billion Despite the adverse impact of COVID-19, the bilateral trade rose by nearly 10% in the first nine months of this year.