Dmitry Medvedev’s meeting with Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 12th East Asia Summit in Manila.

Excerpts from the transcript:

Dmitry Medvedev: Mr Prime Minister, friends, I am happy to meet with you again and to have this opportunity to speak with you on the sidelines of this summit in Manila. We met in May 2016 during the ASEAN-Russia Summit and also during your visit to Russia. Our contacts are progressing very well at every level. Just recently, President Putin attended the APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang and met with President Tran Dai Quang. Last summer the President of Vietnam also visited Russia. I would like to take this opportunity to send my regards to President Tran Dai Quang and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong. Our countries have many plans together and relations continue to develop. We put great emphasis on the Russia-Vietnam year of exchange in 2019 that marks the 25^th anniversary of our Treaty of Friendship. The Russia-Vietnam free trade agreement has been in force for a year now. It has brought its first results, including a 20 percent increase in trade. We will make every effort to secure success.

I would also like to take this chance to express my sympathy in the wake of the Damrey Typhoon that caused human losses and destruction.

Nguyen Xuan Phuc (via interpreter): Mr Medvedev, members of the Russian delegation.

As I said during my official visit to Russia in May 2016, the Vietnamese leadership adheres to a consolidated position regarding the need to promote our relations and our comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia. In this context, we intend to continue to develop our multifaceted ties in trade, the economy, science, technology and culture.

This year, Vietnam held great celebrations of the 100^th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution. It can be said that we celebrated this date more than any other country. This is additional evidence of our warm feelings for Russians.

I would like to use this occasion to once again thank President Vladimir Putin for his decision to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang. Also, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Russia for its humanitarian assistance following the recent typhoon in central Vietnam. You sent 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid and also adopted a decision to allocate $5 million in financial assistance to us.