President meets Russian, RoK, New Zealand leaders

President Truong Tan Sang met with leaders of Russia, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and New Zealand on November 11 on the fringes of the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Beijing, China.

President Truong Tan Sang (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Photo: VNA)

At his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two sides exchanged views on specific measures and directions to step up the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

They agreed to continue the exchange of delegations, particularly those of high-ranking officials to enhance political trust. The Vietnamese leader accepted Putin’s invitation to attend the ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory over Fascism to be held in Moscow on May 9, 2015.

Both spoke highly of positive progress in bilateral economic ties, agreeing to push for the signing of the free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus as well as the implementation of oil and gas exploration and exploitation projects in Vietnam’s continental shelf and in Russia.

President Truong Tan Sang confirmed Vietnam’s willingness to export agro-fishery and consumer products to Russia.

The President also discussed how to further deepen the strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea with President Park Geun-hye.

The two leaders hailed the outcomes of recent visits by the two countries’ high-ranking officials, and agreed to continue working together to effectively realise reached agreements, particularly key economic cooperative projects and programmes, as well as to early complete negotiations on a FTA between the two countries.

During his meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, the two leaders agreed on the need to take full advantage of bilateral cooperative potential, actively implement an action programme for 2013-2016 in order to enhance the two countries’ comprehensive partnership.

The two sides also promised to continue their coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums.

(Source: VNA)