(VOVworld) – Vietnam’s Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong met with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday. Trong is visiting Russia at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Monday, Trong met with Chairwoman of Russia’s Federation Council (Upper House) Valentina Matviyenko and Acting Chairman of the Russian State Duma (Lower House) Ivan Ivanovich Melnikov, who said all parties in Russia advocate friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam. Strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam is Russia’s aspiration. The Russian legislators shared Vietnam’s stance on the East Sea issue - that disputes need to be resolved peacefully, based on international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong meets with Chairwoman of Russia’s Federation Council (Upper House) Valentina Matviyenko. (Photo: VOV)

The leaders agreed to promptly realize cooperation agreements through action plans among parliamentary friendship groups, step up negotiations on a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia, expand consultations, and enhance cooperation at multilateral forums. The Russians promised to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese people living in Russia.

Also on Monday, Trong toured Zarubezhneft, one of Russia’s top oil and gas groups. He encouraged the group to expand its operation in Vietnam.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong presents a souvenir to the Zarubezhneft group. (Photo: VOV)