Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (right) and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov.

The two sides exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern, underlining that profound changes in the region and the world have caused direct impacts on economic connectivity as well as cooperation in addressing regional and global issues. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov said: “The world is changing very fast, thus it is essential for strategic partners to exchange views on urgent issues. The regular political consultations at different levels enable us to deal with the arising issues and maintain exchanges in the spirit of friendship”.

The two sides showed their determination to promote multi-faceted cooperation, especially in economics, striving to lift two-way trade value to 10 billion USD by 2020. They agreed to work together to prepare for the upcoming official visit to Russia by President Tran Dai Quang and other high-level diplomatic activities in 2017.

They affirmed support for the settlement of disputes in the East Sea through peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in accordance with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and towards building a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea. They shared a view that UNCLOS member nations must observe and fully implement their obligations.

A day earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh hosted a reception for Deputy FM Igor Morgulov.