Russia, Vanuatu seek to foster positive trends in bilateral relations - Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW, March 29. /TASS/. Russia and the island nation of Vanuatu are seeking to strengthen positive trends in bilateral relations in the interests of peoples of both countries and ensuring security and stable development in the South Pacific, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday. The ministry’s statement comes ahead a working visit by Vanuatu Foreign and Trade Minister Sato Kilman to Moscow on March 30 - April 1. The visit will take place on the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "During the upcoming talks on March 31, the foreign ministers will discuss in detail the state and the prospects of further development of bilateral cooperation in such areas as tourism, educational exchanges, agricultural and fish deliveries, and will also ‘synchronize their watches’ on international issues," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. During the talks, the sides intend to discuss the possibility of rendering humanitarian support to Vanuatu on a bilateral basis and as part of international efforts to eliminate the consequences of a disastrous hurricane that has hit the island nation, the Foreign Ministry said. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry sent two planes with humanitarian aid to Vanuatu on Sunday. "Two Ilyushin Il-76 planes have taken off from the Ramensky airport in the Moscow Region with humanitarian cargo aboard today on the government’s instruction. The humanitarian aid weighs over 60 tons," Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said. The Russian aircraft will deliver food, including sugar, canned milk, meat and fish, and also portable power generators, tents, blankets and basic necessities. "The humanitarian aid is intended for Vanuatu residents who have suffered from a disastrous tropical cyclone that has destroyed or damaged 90 percent of buildings and ruined the harvest," the Emergencies Ministry said. Vanuatu is a small Pacific nation situated on 83 islands of the New Hebrides archipelago northeast of Australia. Vanuatu residents live on 65 islands. The tiny nation has a population of 267,000 people. Read more