Dmitry Medvedev meets with Chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan

Excerpts from the transcript:

Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (via interpreter): Mr Prime Minister, Russian friends,

First of all, I would like to welcome you to Vietnam. We have the highest regard for the importance of your present visit as well as for your personal contribution to the development of relations between our two countries in recent time.

We are very glad that Russia boasts stability and that the Russian leadership has succeeded in gaining much support of the population. You are able to maintain the country’s unity in order to successfully implement the aims envisaged for the 2018-2024 period.

Russia plays a very important role in maintaining peace and stable development in the region and the world. We have always regarded Russia as our close friend. Almost 70 years have passed since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries.

We favour the further expansion of Russia’s relations with Asian countries, including relations between Russia and ASEAN. We have always viewed Russia as our foreign policy priority.

Dmitry Medvedev: Ms Chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, colleagues, comrades,

First of all, I would like to say that I am glad to have made your acquaintance. And I am very pleased to be visiting the friendly Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

We are indeed strategic partners, and we are friends. Our friendship is many decades old. We maintain active contacts in all spheres and at all political levels, including the national leadership level. The General Secretary [of your party] and President of the country visited [Russia] recently. Right now, I am on a government visit [to Vietnam]. State Duma Speaker will soon visit your country. I would like to take this opportunity to convey greetings from Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko and State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin.

I hope we will maintain good relations in the future as well.