The agreement was reached at talks between National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia’s Federal Assembly Valentina Matviyenko in Moscow on March 11.

At the meeting, Hung affirmed that Russia is the leading partner in Viet Nam’s diplomatic policy.

The lifting of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership last year demonstrated the two countries’ relations and mutual respect, meeting the demand for increased bilateral ties in the new situation, Hung said.

The NA Chairman suggested Viet Nam and Russia maintain the exchange of all-level delegations, diversify bilateral ties and strengthen people-to-people diplomacy. He asked the two sides to complete necessary procedures to promptly negotiate and sign the free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the Customs Alliance (Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus) to raise two-way trade to 7 billion USD by 2015.

Hung proposed the two nations develop closer links in security-defence and military technology. In addition, he said he hopes the Russian Federal Assembly will assist Viet Nam in improving the professional capacity of its legislators.

Both sides need to utilise consultation mechanisms and work closely together at multilateral forums like the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, Hung said, adding that he hopes the Russian Federal Assembly will back Viet Nam to host the IPU General Assembly in 2015.

Matviyenko said she believes the visit will make practical contributions to strengthening ties between the two legislative bodies, and at the same time create new prospects for bilateral cooperation, and inter-regional and global links.

She expressed her hope that the two Governments will further promote cooperation in fields of each side’s strength, especially in oil and gas, science-technology, nuclear energy, culture, education, tourism, security and defence.

The Russian legislator suggested both sides further promote links in defence, security and military science-technology, and finalise the FTA between Viet Nam and the Customs Alliance to lay the foundation for economic development on each side.

Russia will offer more scholarships to Vietnamese students each year and step up negotiations to build the Viet Nam–Russia technology university in Ha Noi, said Matviyenko.

She recommended that the two countries’ Friendship Parliamentarian Groups work out a specific plan to effectively implement cooperation agreements between the two legislatures in the future, and boost ties between Ha Noi/HCM City and Moscow/St. Petersburg.

Concluding the talks, Matviyenko presented an insignia of the Russian Federal Assembly to Hung.

At the press briefing following the talks, Matviyenko asserted that Russia supports Viet Nam’s hosting of the IPU General Assembly in 2015.

The same day, Hung and his entourage laid a wreath at a memorial dedicated to unknown martyrs near the Grand Kremlin palace.