President Sang highlighted Russian people’s assistance to Viet Nam during its past struggle for national liberation and current national construction, affirming that the help will always be remembered.

He suggested ITAR-TASS and the Viet Nam News Agency (VNA) increase the sharing of information in various areas, ranging from politics, investment, and trade to social life and culture to reflect development cooperation and integration between the two nations.

Sergei Mikhailov expressed his pleasure to be the first general director of ITAR-TASS to visit Viet Nam.

He used the occasion to extend condolences to the Vietnamese Party and State over the passing of General Vo Nguyen Giap, noting that Russian people have admired and respected the General, who had made great contributions to the friendship between the two countries.

Recalling the operations of Soviet Union reporters in Viet Nam during the wartime, the ITAR-TASS official emphasised that mutual understanding and mutual trust serve as a good foundation for the two countries’ news agencies to strengthen their cooperation.

Sergei Mikhailov informed the host that ITAR-TASS and VNA will hold a photo exhibition featuring the two countries’ land and people on the occasion of the upcoming visit to Viet Nam by President Vladimir Putin.

He affirmed that his agency will spare no effort to promote the traditional friendship between the two countries and push up cooperation between the two news agencies.