n official welcome ceremony for Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc is held at Vnukovo 2 airport (Photo: VNA)

A solemn official welcome ceremony was held at the airport for the Vietnamese guests with the presence of many high-ranking officials of the two countries.

PM Phuc and his spouse were welcomed at the airport by a Russian Deputy Foreign Minister. The Government leader was invited to review the Guards of Honour in the national anthems of the two countries by the military band.

After the official welcoming ceremony held at Vnukovo 2 airport, the Prime Minister visited the Vietnamese embassy and talked with the Vietnamese community in Russia. The Prime Minister briefed them on Vietnam’s socio-economic development and asked the embassy to strengthen economic diplomacy and pay more attention to overseas Vietnamese in the resident country. He reiterated the Vietnamese Party and State’s favorable policies for overseas Vietnamese.

During his visit to Russia, the Prime Minister will meet Russian leaders and join them in the opening of the Vietnam Year in Russia. He is scheduled to attend the Vietnam-Russia Business Forum, meet the Association of War Veterans who took part in the war in Vietnam and present Friendship Orders to Russian citizens who contributed to bilateral ties.

Earlier, the Prime Minister met with the Acting Governor of Saint Petersburg in which he reiterated the Vietnamese government’s support for further bilateral cooperation between the two countries’ localities.

Vietnam and the Soviet Union, the predecessor of the current Russia, officially established their diplomatic relations on January 30, 1950. The Vietnam – Russia political relations enjoy a high trust and have been unceasingly consolidated. The exchanges of high-level delegations are conducted on a regular basis, creating a strong driving force for the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.