(VOVWORLD) - President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Monday began an official visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
 State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc. (Photo: congluan.vn) |
The 4-day visit marks 71 years of Vietnam-Russiadiplomatic relations, 20 years of a joint statement establishing a strategic partnership, and 10 years of a joint statement raising their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
In an interview granted to Russian media, President Phuc said choosing Russia as one of the first countries to visit in his new position demonstrates that Vietnam attaches great importance to relations with Russia.
The visit aims to promote cooperation between the two countries in pandemic prevention and control, and accelerate Russia’s delivery of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine technology to Vietnam.
In an article titled “A true comrade” published by Russia’s Independence newspaper on Sunday, GrigoryTrofimchuk, an expert on international politics, praised the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia and stressed the importance of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit.
He called Vietnam a reliable partner of the former Soviet Union and today’s Russia.
 President Nguyen Xuan Phuc concludes an official visit to Switzerland on November 29, 2021. (Pjoto: VNA) |
Earlier on Monday, President Phuc wrapped up an official visit to Switzerland during which he and Swiss President Guy Parmelin agreed to speed up negotiations on a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association.
President Parmelin said Switzerland wants to sign an FTA with Vietnam similar to the deal Vietnam signed with the EU.
President Phuc also met the heads of international organizations in Geneva including the UN Office, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The Director General of the WHO said the organization will accelerate COVID-19 vaccine delivery to Vietnam and support Vietnam’s idea to become a regional center for vaccine production.