The agreement was reached during a meeting in Moscow on September 8 between General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam and Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, who was in Moscow on a State visit to Russia, proposed that the two sides continue to make full use of parliamentary cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, to monitor the implementation of high-level agreements and work together to address obstacles in bilateral cooperation.

Appreciating the effectiveness of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the State Duma, he described it as a special and practical mechanism that enables the two legislative bodies not only to strengthen their ties but also to directly exchange views and review the implementation of agreements reached by the two countries’ senior leaders.

He proposed strengthening cooperation among specialised committees, parliamentary friendship groups, young parliamentarians and women parliamentarians, while sharing experience in lawmaking and oversight to reinforce the legal and political foundations of bilateral relations.

Turning high-level commitments into tangible results

State Duma leader Volodin affirmed that the State Duma and political forces represented in the legislature support the continued consolidation and strong development of the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Notably, he stressed that despite possible differences, all political parties in the State Duma support Vietnam and share a common position on strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Volodin affirmed that he and the State Duma would do their utmost to implement the commitments and agreements reached between Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and President Vladimir Putin during the visit, contributing to deeper and more effective Vietnam-Russia relations.

According to him, one of the key tasks of the two countries’ legislative bodies is to create a favourable legal framework for implementing agreements reached at the highest level.

Parliamentary cooperation should focus on specific and practical issues, helping translate the political decisions and orientations of the two countries’ leaders into tangible results that directly bring benefits for people and businesses in both countries.

The two sides agreed to strengthen the role of legislative bodies in creating a favourable legal framework for long-term energy cooperation projects, and step up the sharing of experience in developing energy policies and legislation and training human resources in areas where Russia has strengths and Vietnam has demand.

They also agreed to enhance coordination at regional and international parliamentary forums, continue consultations and coordinate positions on issues of shared concern, thereby contributing to dialogue, cooperation, peace, stability and development.

Renewing the foundation of Vietnam-Russia cooperation

At the meeting, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, which it considers one of the leading important partners in its foreign policy.

The two sides noted that political relations between Vietnam and Russia continue to enjoy a high level of trust, while exchanges of delegations, high-level and other contacts, and people-to-people exchanges have been maintained, creating a foundation for enhancing comprehensive cooperation.

Party General Secretary and President To Lam stressed that the two countries’ relations have developed over many decades, weathering the test of time and changes in the global situation to become a valuable common asset of the two peoples.

Vietnam wishes Russia to continue to inherit, preserve and promote this foundation, while adding new areas of cooperation that meet the development needs of the two countries in the current period, he said.

The Party General Secretary and State President also shared his congratulations on Russia’s achievements in recent years and affirmed that Vietnam always treasures the support and assistance provided by the people of the former Soviet Union and Russia today during Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation and reunification, as well as its national construction and defence.

The two sides also agreed to continue strengthening people-to-people exchanges, with particular attention to educating younger generations about the historical values and friendship between Vietnam and Russia.

On the occasion, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam conveyed National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man’s greetings to State Duma leader Vyacheslav Volodin.

Volodin, for his part, invited National Assembly President Man to visit Russia at a convenient time.