Full text of the Joint Communiqué between Vietnam and the Russian Federation

The upgrading of relations between Vietnam and Russia to a comprehensive strategic partnership has created a strong impetus for promoting bilateral cooperation.

On the afternoon of May 15th (local time), Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and the high-level Vietnamese government delegation departed Sochi, successfully concluding their official visit to the Russian Federation at the invitation of Russian Prime Minister D. Medvedev.
The following is the full text of the Joint Communiqué between Vietnam and the Russian Federation:

1. At the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, D.A. Medvedev, the 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 held a meeting with President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, a private meeting and talks with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of the Russian Federation, and a meeting with the 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 Monument to President Ho Chi Minh, met with veterans and experts from the Russian Federation 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 their respective countries, exchanged views on directions and measures to implement the comprehensive strategic partnership between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Russian Federation, aiming to further strengthen the trusted political relationship, promote cooperation in trade and investment, defense and security, science and technology, education and training, etc. The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern.

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

2. The two prime ministers emphasized that the upgrading of relations between Vietnam and Russia to a comprehensive strategic partnership has created a strong impetus for the development of bilateral cooperation in a new historical period. The two governments will closely coordinate and direct their ministries, agencies, and localities 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 years, which have made a significant contribution to continuously enhancing Vietnam's role and prestige in the international and regional arenas; and expressed its highest support for the development direction that Vietnam is pursuing in restructuring its economy, innovating its growth model, and deeply integrating into the international community.

The Vietnamese side welcomes 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.

Both sides agreed to strengthen political dialogue and further consolidate relations through Party, State, Government, and Parliament channels, as well as between ministries, departments, localities, and the people of the two countries.

3. The leaders of the Vietnamese and Russian governments agreed to continue implementing measures to increase bilateral trade to US$7 billion by 2015 and US$10 billion by 2020. Both sides welcomed the commencement of negotiations on the signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the member states of the Customs Union (the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, and the Republic of Kazakhstan) and the positive results of the first round of negotiations. Both sides agreed to negotiate a comprehensive free trade agreement encompassing trade, investment, services, and other issues of mutual interest, based on the principles of flexibility, development goals, a balance between needs and interests, in accordance with common international practices and the regulations of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

4. Both sides noted that the Vietnam-Russia High-Level Working Group on Priority Investment Projects has commenced operations to unlock the enormous potential for bilateral investment cooperation. The agreed-upon investment cooperation projects will receive the necessary state support.

5. Both sides positively assessed cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, emphasizing the particular importance of building the first nuclear power plant in Vietnam. The Russian side will build the nuclear power plant in Vietnam on schedule as agreed, using advanced technology to ensure the highest level of safety, quality, and efficiency. Both sides agreed to expedite negotiations towards signing an intergovernmental agreement on the conditions for financing the construction of a Nuclear Science and Technology Center in Vietnam.

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

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

8. Both sides acknowledge the enormous potential for cooperation in areas such as mining, civil aviation, telecommunications, and information and communication.

9. Both 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 the national currencies of Vietnam and Russia in bilateral payments for foreign economic transactions.

10. Both sides affirmed their commitment to further strengthen cooperation in the fields of science and technology, and education and training, elevating bilateral relations in these areas to a strategic level. Both sides agreed to create conditions and mechanisms for cooperation to enable relevant agencies of both countries to conduct scientific research and technology transfer within the framework of joint programs and projects.

Both sides affirmed their commitment to promoting the establishment of the Vietnam-Russia University of Technology in Hanoi, based on a loan from the Government of the Russian Federation, with the aim of training highly qualified experts for Vietnam, as well as maintaining and enhancing the effectiveness of the Vietnam-Russia Center for Tropical Science and Technology and Research.

11. Both sides agree that strengthening relations in the humanities, including expanding cooperation in tourism, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, will create a solid foundation for developing the traditional friendly cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Russia. The governments of both sides will create all favorable conditions to successfully organize activities to introduce and promote the culture and tourism of each country in the other.

12. Both sides encourage the development of effective and substantive cooperation between localities of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Russian Federation, including supporting companies and enterprises of both countries in exploring investment opportunities with necessary incentives within the framework of the current laws of each side.

13. Both 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 trade fairs and exhibitions, conduct market research on each other's markets, and establish effective linkages in the fields of trade and investment.

14. Both sides acknowledge 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 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 coordinated action on the international stage, contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

16. Both sides agreed to actively support each other's candidates in United Nations bodies as well as other international organizations, including the EXPO-2020 World Expo.

17. During the visit of the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the two sides signed a cooperation plan in the field of tourism between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Federal Tourism Agency of Russia, 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 technology, banking and railway construction.

18. Both sides agreed that the official visit of the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Nguyen Tan Dung, to the Russian Federation made a significant contribution to promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation.

The Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam expressed gratitude for the warm welcome from the Russian side and respectfully invited Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Damedev, to visit the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at a suitable time. The Prime Minister of the Russian Federation happily accepted the invitation. The specific dates of the visit will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.

According to (vov.vn) - LT