(VOVworld) – Vietnam and Russia issued a joint statement following Russian President Vladimir’s visit to Vietnam.

During the visit, President Putin held talks with President Truong Tan Sang and met with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. They stressed the importance to raise the Vietnam-Russia strategic partnership to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership, which will open new opportunities for further cooperation and exchanges at all levels. The two sides agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in oil and gas on Vietnam’s continental shelf in line with international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The two sides welcomed the vigorous development of cooperation in finance and investment and that cooperation in this field should be expanded concerning the use of credit cards and the local currency in bilateral payment. The two sides acknowledged the steady development of cooperation in military and military technology, contributing to peace, stability and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region and praised the decision to establish a strategic dialogue mechanism at the deputy defense ministerial level. They also acknowledged the importance of cooperation in science and technology, education and training and the raising of cooperation in these areas to the strategic level. The two sides appreciated the ratification of an agreement between the governments of Vietnam and Russia to allow their citizens to work in each other’s territory and to facilitate conditions for labor cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides reiterated their hope to consolidate multilateralism in the world political arena based on international law with respect to the UN Charter, national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as non-interference into each other’s internal affairs without the use of or threat to use force. The two sides supported increased international efforts to cope with global challenges such as climate change, state of emergency, natural disasters, sustainable water management, and food security. In this spirit, the two sides will cooperate closely together and at regional and global organizations and forums.