On September 9, the third meeting of the Inter-parliamentary Commission on Cooperation between the State Duma and the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was held at the State Duma.
The Chairman of the State
Duma Vyacheslav Volodin
Vyacheslav Victorovich
The Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the eighth convocation. Elected in single mandate constituency № 163 (Saratov constituency - Saratov Oblast)
and the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Trần Thanh Mẫn opened the meeting. This is his
first foreign visit as the head of the Parliament.
Vyacheslav Volodin noted the effectiveness of the format of the inter-parliamentary commission. “We need to create a legal framework for the development of economic contacts, cooperation in strategic areas,” said the Chairman of the State Duma. “We should analyze the agreements that were already signed, the agreements reached, to formulate our position within the framework of parliamentary dimension and control,” he added.
“We have overcome a great number of challenges, protected our friendship and have done everything to make today’s meeting possible, discuss issues of developing our relations in the interests of the citizens of our countries,” he said.
“We are building relations on the principles of respect, mutually beneficial cooperation, non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states,” emphasized the Chairman of the State Duma.
According to Vyacheslav Volodin, trade turnover between Russia and Vietnam is growing: “We discuss the possibility of reaching a trade turnover of about $15 billion by 2030.”
“We should achieve the goals set by Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and the leadership of Vietnam to develop our relations and increase trade turnover,” said Vyacheslav Volodin.
“We need to use the capabilities of parliaments so that we can more effectively form the legal framework in those fields and areas that the heads of our states and governments have agreed to develop,” he added.
The Chairman of the State Duma drew attention to the ongoing development of tourism. “This once again shows the interest to Russia from Vietnam and in our country to Vietnam. Our tourists have begun to choose Vietnam more often. And we hope that this year we will reach quantitative indicators that will be higher than in 2023. But we need to work and create conditions for this,” said Vyacheslav Volodin.
“It is especially difficult when there is counteraction — counteraction from those who want to preserve a unipolar world, from those who want not to let us plan our future, make decisions ourselves,” said the Chairman of the State Duma and added that it was aimed both at Russia and Vietnam.
“For us, Vietnam is more than a strategic partner. This is a country with which we have overcome a great number of challenges, a country that has defended its sovereignty, that understands what challenges and sanctions are. We speak the same language,” said Vyacheslav Volodin.
“The creation of an inter-parliamentary commission is a good initiative of Russian friends. We held two successful meetings that gave good results and helped increase the comprehensive strategic partnership, strengthen bilateral ties in the field of economy, defense, security and other important areas of cooperation,” said the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Trần Thanh Mẫn.
“In the near future, we will exchange delegations at various levels to deepen relations between the parties, the states, parliaments and various political and public associations,” he added.
Opinions of parliamentarians
“Exchanging legislative experience help us improve national legislations, develop inter-parliamentary cooperation in the interests of the citizens of our countries,” emphasized the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Ivan Melnikov
Melnikov 
Ivan Ivanovich .
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Trần Hồng Hà spoke in detail about the development of cooperation between Russia and Vietnam in all areas: from energy, transport and trade to the humanitarian cooperation.
The Chairman of the Committee
on Financial Market Anatoly Aksakov
Anatoly Gennadievich
spoke about interaction in the financial
and banking sectors. According to the parliamentarian, it is necessary to increase
mutual payments in national currencies — rubles and Vietnamese dongs.
“We should achieve an increase in trade turnover by at least five times,” emphasized the Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy Maxim Topilin
Maxim Anatolievich
. According to him, the relevant
committees will also prepare proposals for the development of additional
investment in our economy.
Russia and Vietnam have long-standing relations of friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership, according to the Chairman of the Economic Committee of the National Assembly Vũ Hồng Thanh. The Parliament of Vietnam also pays great attention to the development of Russian-Vietnamese relations, including in the trade and economic areas, he adds.
Pavel Zavalny
Pavel Nikolaevich
, the First
Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Energy, recalled that Russian President
Vladimir Putin, in an article published on the eve of his official visit to Vietnam this June, called the energy sector a strategically important sector of bilateral cooperation. “The main area of cooperation is the oil and gas
industry,” he added.
“I am convinced that the development of our cooperation in the energy sector, including in new areas — hydrogen, low-carbon energy — will only increase,” said Pavel Zavalny.
The Chairman of the Committee
on Health Protection Badma Bashankaev
Badma Nikolaevich
noted that cooperation in the healthcare area
between the two countries and said that “it is very long-standing and will only
strengthen”. “Currently, doctors from Vietnam are participating in a large-scale international project conducted by our country aimed at protecting
the health of mothers and newborns, children under the age of five. This is a large program that trains national personnel for childhood and obstetric services.
Demography is the main issue in many countries of the world,” the parliamentarian said.
“Relations between the Russian Federation and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the field of science and education are actively developing,” said the Chairman of the Committee on Science and Higher Education Sergey Kabyshev
Sergey Vladimirovich
. He recalled that
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement during his visit to Vietnam, according to which the quota for Vietnamese students in Russian
universities should be at least a thousand people, while all of them should be
given the right to study for a year in preparatory courses and receive a scholarship.
Lê Quang Huy, the Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, said that Vietnamese parliamentarians “are interested in mutual exchange in these areas”. “Learning from the legislative experience of Russian colleagues is very important and useful,” emphasized the parliamentarian.
According to the Chairman of the Committee on Tourism and Development of Tourism Infrastructure Sangadzhi
Tarbaev
Sangadzhi Andreyevich
, “Vietnam has always had and has a special place in Russian international
policy and economic.” He noted that in the field of tourism “Russia and Vietnam
have something to show and tell each other” and the number of tourists is
growing. The parliamentarian also said that Russia is interested in Vietnamese
experience in tourism development.
The Chairwoman of the State
Duma Committee on Education Olga Kazakova
Olga Mikhailovna
noted that our country is
implementing the “Russian Teacher Abroad” project in 24 countries, including
Vietnam. According to her, a number of issues have also been discussed related
to building a Russian school in Hanoi.
“There is such a format of communication as teleconferences. Our young people who study in technical schools, colleges, could discuss their interests, tell more about professions they are preparing for, exchange the experience they have: how they study, build relations. “We, for our part, can help with such platforms,” said Olga Kazakova.
