Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov. (Photo: VNA)

Highly valuating the positive results in bilateral cooperation over the past years, PM Chinh thanked the Russian side for its valuable support and assistance to Viet Nam in the past and during the current process of national construction and development, most recently in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lavrov said that Russia always considers Viet Nam an important partner in the region and wants to further foster cooperation with the Southeast Asian country.

Both sides agreed to further promote high-level agreements reached by leaders of the two countries and pledged to maintain bilateral cooperation in traditional areas where they have advantages.

PM Chinh asked ministries and sectors of both countries to remove difficulties in trade, investment and transport, while optimising the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) - Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement and creating favourable conditions for businesses of both nations to expand their partnership.

At the same time, both sides should resume collaboration activities in the fields of culture, sports, tourism, education, training, and people-to-people exchange as the COVID-19 pandemic was controlled, he said.

The PM affirmed that Viet Nam has persisted with a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development and building an independent and self-reliant economy with active international integration and firm protection of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He suggested the two sides organise the 24^th meeting of the Viet Nam - Russia Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic - Commercial and Scientific - Technological Cooperation in Viet Nam.

Lavrov shared Russia’s viewpoints on the Ukraine issue. PM Chinh took this occasion to thank Russia for supporting the evacuation of Vietnamese citizens from Ukraine.

The Russian minister spoke highly of Viet Nam's standpoint, role, 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 measures in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and hoped for the soon finalisation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

PM Chinh also thanked the Russian Government for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to stably reside, do business and study in Russia, especially during difficult times of COVID-19.

The leader asked the Russian FM to convey his invitation to Russian PM Mikhail Mishustin to visit Viet Nam at an appropriate time./.