Nghe An: Many prospects for developing cooperative relations with Russia

(Baonghean) - The cooperative relationship between Nghe An and the Russian Federation, especially with the twinned province of Ulyanovsk, the hometown of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, is increasingly developing, opening up many opportunities for cultural exchange and economic cooperation in the new period.

Cooperation on culture and education

Before the 1990s, Nghe An province and Ulyanovsk province, Russian Federation established friendly cooperative relations. After a period of interruption, in 2005, the two provinces resumed friendly cooperative relations during the visit and work of the high-ranking delegation of Nghe An province in Ulyanovsk province. Notably, in 2007, the high-ranking delegation of Ulyanovsk province visited Nghe An province and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the fields of economy - trade, tourism, culture, sports, etc.

In 2014, a high-ranking delegation of Nghe An province visited and worked in Ulyanovsk province to further promote cooperation activities between the two provinces. In November 2016, through the activities of the Nghe An delegation in Ulyanovsk in particular and the Russian Federation in general, the two sides thoroughly discussed cooperation opportunities to bring the relationship to a new and deeper level.

First of all, in the near future in Ulyanovsk, the Ho Chi Minh Monument and Square will be inaugurated (expected on May 19, 2017), becoming a symbol of the good and increasingly sustainable relationship between the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh and the homeland of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. Also during this working trip, the provincial delegation visited and worked with High School 76, the school with the memorial room of President Ho Chi Minh. The two sides reviewed the results of cooperation between High School 76 and Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted in Nghe An.

Delegation of Nghe An province working in Ulyanovsk, Russian Federation (November 2016). Photo: Khanh Tran

The leaders of High School 76 hope that Nghe An province will create favorable conditions to support teachers to organize Vietnamese classes for students; organize exchange programs and student exchanges between the two sides. The Ulyanovsk city government has also decided to change the name of High School 76 to Ho Chi Minh High School.

The delegation visited and worked with Ulyanovsk State Technical University (ULSTU). Established in 1957, this is a large educational and research institution in Ulyanovsk, one of the leading scientific centers of the Volga region, training specialists in various fields, focusing mainly on science and technology such as senior engineers in information technology, high technology, aircraft manufacturing, construction, design, medicine, oil and gas. In the spirit of cooperation between the two sides, ULSTU will establish a cooperative relationship by granting a number of scholarships to students of Vinh Technical Pedagogical University, Nghe An province; sponsoring 7 scholarships for students of Nghe An province in 2017.

Investment opportunity

During the activities of the Nghe An province delegation led by Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa in the Russian Federation in November 2016, the delegation visited and worked with the High-Tech Agricultural Production Joint Stock Company (Agroprompark) in Ulyanovsk. This is a 100% state-owned company with the function of production, purchasing for preservation and distribution. In particular, this company applies technology to preserve agricultural products for 5 months, but still ensures fresh agricultural products, creating large profits for the enterprise because the price difference between the main season and the off-season (winter) in Russia can sometimes be up to 300%.

In addition, the company also rents out warehouses and supports the distribution of goods through auctions. Agroprompark affirms that it has a need to cooperate with Nghe An enterprises, especially in the agricultural sector. In particular, the Russian market is known as a potential market for agricultural products when Russia's production has not met the demand and in the context of US and Western sanctions against Russia, imports are difficult.

Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs Tran Khanh Thuc, a member of the working delegation, said: During the working session with the leaders of Ulyanovsk province, the Deputy Governor of this province - Mr. Phillip highly appreciated Nghe An's cooperation efforts in the past time, and wished to continue to build the cooperative relationship between the two sides to become deeper and closer.

Hanoi - Moscow multifunctional complex (Incentra). Photo: Internet

Also within the framework of this working trip, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa and the provincial delegation worked with the leaders of Incentra Company Limited, the manager of the Hanoi - Moscow multifunctional complex, and representatives of BIDV Bank as well as leaders of a number of Vietnamese textile and garment enterprises in Moscow. After discussion, Incentra and BIDV agreed to connect and support Nghe An to organize trade and investment promotion in Moscow and Ulyanovsk, scheduled for May 2017; support cultural promotion, introduce and promote tourism according to the "red journey" tourism chain of Russia and Vietnam.

Discussing the cooperative relationship between Nghe An and the Russian Federation in general and Ulyanovsk province in particular, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa said: It is expected that on May 19, 2017, in Ulyanovsk, Nghe An province will hold the inauguration ceremony of the Square and Statue of President Ho Chi Minh. Along with that, a number of side events will be held, including promoting the potential of Nghe An to attract investment and tourism to Ulyanovsk; organizing folk performances of Vi and Giam to serve the inauguration ceremony as well as promoting the traditional culture of Nghe An to the Russian people as well as overseas Vietnamese in Russia.

Signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the People's Committee of Vinh City, Nghe An Province and the Ulyanovsk City Government Committee, Ulyanovsk Province; Vinh Technical Pedagogical University and Ulyanovsk National Technical University; Ulyanovsk High School No. 76 and Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, Nghe An Province. At the same time, announcing the decision to change the name of Ulyanovsk High School No. 76 to Ho Chi Minh High School. Organizing the groundbreaking ceremony of Nghe An Trade Center in Ulyanovsk City invested by the Association of Vietnamese Solidarity in Ulyanovsk.

On this occasion, Nghe An province also plans to organize an event to introduce trade promotion products combined with investment promotion in Moscow. “On the basis of the traditional friendship between the two countries and localities, in addition to developing relationships and cultural exchanges, the province will focus on promoting connections between Nghe An and Russian enterprises, connecting cooperation in the development of tourism, which is a very potential field between the two sides,” added Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa.

Thanh Duy