Full text of Vietnam - Russian Federation Joint Communique

Vietnam and Russia's upgrading of relations to comprehensive strategic partnership has created a strong driving force to promote bilateral cooperation.

On the afternoon of May 15 (local time), Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Government left Sochi city, successfully concluding an official visit to the Russian Federation at the invitation of Russian Prime Minister D.Medvedev.
The following is the full text of the Vietnam - Russian Federation Joint Communique:

1. At the invitation of Prime Minister of the Russian Federation DA Medvedev, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung paid an official visit to the Russian Federation from May 12 to 15, 2013.

The Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam had a meeting with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, a meeting and talks with Prime Minister of the Russian Federation D. Medvedev, and Chairman of the State Duma (Lower House) of the Russian Federation Sergey Nasyskin. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Ho Chi Minh Monument, met with veterans, Russian experts who had worked in Vietnam and representatives of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association, and visited Kaliningrad province.

During the talks and meetings, the two sides informed each other about the situation in each country, discussed directions and measures to implement the comprehensive strategic partnership between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Russian Federation to further consolidate the trustful political relationship, promote cooperation in trade-investment, defense-security, science-technology, education-training, etc. The two sides also exchanged opinions on international and regional issues of mutual concern.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister of the Russian Federation
D. Medvedev (Photo: Thanh Chung)

2. The two Prime Ministers emphasized that the upgrading of Vietnam and Russia to a comprehensive strategic partnership has created a strong driving force to promote bilateral cooperation in a new historical period. The two governments will closely coordinate and direct ministries, branches and localities of the two countries to implement extensive and comprehensive cooperation in all fields.

The Russian side highly appreciated the socio-economic development achievements that Vietnam has made in recent times, which have significantly contributed to continuously enhancing Vietnam's role and prestige in the international and regional arenas; at the same time, expressed its highest support for the development direction that Vietnam is implementing in the process of restructuring the economy, renewing the growth model and deeply integrating into the world.

The Vietnamese side welcomed the achievements that the Russian Federation has made in the comprehensive modernization of the country and the important contributions of the Russian Federation to ensuring security, cooperation and prosperity in the world.

The two sides agreed to enhance political dialogue and further consolidate relations through the Party, State, Government, National Assembly, and between ministries, sectors, localities and people of the two countries.

3. The leaders of the two governments of Vietnam and the Russian Federation agreed to continue implementing measures to increase two-way trade turnover to 7 billion USD by 2015 and 10 billion USD by 2020. The two sides welcomed the launch of negotiations on the signing of a Free Trade Area Agreement (FTA) between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the member states of the Customs Union (the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan) and the positive results of the first round of negotiations. The two sides agreed to negotiate a comprehensive free trade agreement covering the fields of trade, investment, services, as well as other issues of mutual concern, based on the principles of flexibility, development goals, balance between needs and interests, in accordance with common international practices and regulations of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

4. The two sides noted that the Vietnam-Russia High-Level Working Group on Priority Investment Projects has begun its activities to promote the great potential of bilateral investment cooperation. The agreed investment cooperation projects will receive necessary support from the State.

5. The two sides positively evaluated the cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, emphasizing the special importance of building the first nuclear power plant in Vietnam. The Russian side will build the nuclear power plant in Vietnam on the agreed schedule, based on advanced technology to ensure safety, quality and highest efficiency. The two sides agreed to accelerate negotiations towards signing an intergovernmental agreement on the conditions for providing finance for the construction of the Nuclear Science and Technology Center in Vietnam.

6. The two sides highly appreciated the performance of the two countries' oil and gas enterprises and joint ventures; agreed to continue to facilitate the operations of the two countries' enterprises, namely Petrovietnam, Gazprom, Zarubezhneft, Rosneft, Lukoil Overseas, their member companies, and the joint ventures Vietsovpetro, Rusvietpetro, Gazpromviet, Vietgazprom, as well as encourage the establishment of new joint ventures to expand oil and gas exploration and exploitation areas in Vietnam, the Russian Federation and third countries. The two sides affirmed that they will continue to strengthen cooperation in the field of oil and gas exploration and exploitation on the continental shelf of Vietnam in accordance with international law, first of all the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

7. The two sides agreed to continue promoting cooperation in the field of defense and security in the spirit of the agreements reached between the two countries' heads of state.

8. The two sides acknowledged the great potential for cooperation in areas such as mining industry, civil aviation, telecommunications and information and communications.

9. The two sides emphasized the need for the Vietnam-Russia Joint Venture Bank to participate more actively in providing financial services for large joint venture projects as well as expanding the use of Vietnamese and Russian national currencies in bilateral payments for foreign economic transactions.

10. The two sides affirmed to continue promoting cooperation in the fields of science, technology, education and training, bringing bilateral relations in these fields to a strategic level. The two sides agreed to create conditions and cooperation mechanisms for relevant agencies of the two countries to conduct scientific research and technology transfer within the framework of joint programs and projects.

The two sides affirmed to promote the establishment of the Vietnam-Russia University of Technology in Hanoi on the basis of credit capital from the Government of the Russian Federation, in order to train highly qualified experts for Vietnam, as well as maintain and improve the operational efficiency of the Vietnam-Russia Center for Tropical Science, Technology and Research.

11. The two sides agreed that strengthening relations in the humanitarian field, including expanding cooperation in tourism, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, would create a solid foundation for developing the traditional and friendly cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Russia. The two governments will create all favorable conditions for the successful organization of activities to introduce and promote each country's culture and tourism in the other country.

12. The two sides encourage the development of local cooperation between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Russian Federation in an effective and substantive manner, including supporting companies and enterprises of the two countries to study investment possibilities with necessary incentives within the framework of current laws of each side.

13. The two sides support the efforts of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the two countries in assisting businesses to establish and expand direct relationships, organize fairs and exhibitions, research each other's markets, and establish effective links in the fields of trade and investment.

14. The two sides acknowledged the important contributions of citizens of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Russia and citizens of the Russian Federation in Vietnam to strengthening the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries, and are ready to continue ensuring favorable conditions for them to live, work and study in the territories of Vietnam and the Russian Federation in accordance with the laws of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Russian Federation.

15. The two Prime Ministers affirmed their determination to implement the high-level agreements reached between President Truong Tan Sang and President V. Putin in the Joint Statement on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation in July 2012 in foreign policy as well as to enhance coordination of actions in the international arena, contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

16. The two sides agreed to actively support each other's candidates at United Nations agencies as well as other international organizations, including the World Exhibition EXPO-2020.

17. Within the framework of the visit of the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the two sides signed a plan for cooperation in the field of tourism between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Russian Federation Tourism Agency, a cooperation program between the Ministry of Justice of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation for the period 2013-2014, as well as contracts between enterprises on cooperation in the fields of oil and gas, military engineering, banking and railway construction.

18. The two sides agreed that the official visit to the Russian Federation by Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung made an important contribution to promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation.

The Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam thanked the Russian side for the warm welcome and respectfully invited Prime Minister of the Russian Federation DAMedvedev to visit the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at a convenient time. The Prime Minister of the Russian Federation gladly accepted the invitation. The specific time of the visit will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels./.

According to (vov.vn) - LT