Viet Nam eyes stronger ties with Russia: Prime Minister

Pham made the above statement on Wednesday while hosting a reception for Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov who is on a two-day visit to Viet Nam on the occasion of the 10^th founding anniversary of the Viet Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership (July 2012-July 2022).

The Government chief affirmed Viet Nam consistently sticks to its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development.

The Southeast Asian country is determined to build an independent and self-reliant economy in association with proactive and active international integration and firm protection of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Pham stressed.

He urged both sides to fully tap opportunities brought by the free trade agreement signed between Viet Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union on May 29, 2015, create favorable conditions for expansion of business-to-business cooperation, and soon resume cooperation in culture, tourism, sports, education and training and people-to-people exchanges once the COVID-19 pandemic is put under control.

The Prime Minister also asked the two countries to organize the 24^th meeting of the Viet Nam-Russia Inter-governmental Committee on economic, trade, scientific and technological cooperation in Viet Nam.

He took the occasion to thank Russia for its valuable support and assistance for Viet Nam in the past and the current national construction process, including Russia's support for the COVID-19 fight.

Pham also conveyed his invitation to Russian counterpart Mishustin to visit Viet Nam at a convenient time.

For his part, Lavrov affirmed Russia always considers Viet Nam one of its major partners in the region and expects to further consolidate cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation.

Lavrov spoke highly ò Viet Nam's position, role and positive and responsible contributions to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world.

He agreed on the importance of settling disputes in the East Sea through peaceful means on the basis of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

Earlier the same day, Lavrov paid a courtesy call on Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and held talks with Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son./.