Vietnamese PM says agreement reached with Russia on stepping up defense cooperation

HANOI, November 19. /TASS/. Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said he had reached an agreement with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on boosting defense cooperation between the two countries. "We are satisfied with the fact that cooperation in defense, security, education, science and technology, culture as well as contacts between the two countries’ regions are developing very positively and agreed to expand cooperation in these very promising areas," he said following talks with Medvedev. The Vienamese premier also announced plans to increase trade with Russia to $10 bln by 2020. "Our two countries will continue implementing the agreement on a free trade zone between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union to maximize the favorable conditions and preferences under that agreement. We will seek to achieve a breakthrough in bilateral trade and investment by increasing bilateral trade turnover to $10 bln by 2020," he said. Nguyen Xuan Phuc also pointed out that he discussed the situation in the South China Sea with his Russian counterpart. "Comrade Medvedev and I discussed many international and regional issues of mutual interest, including our joint efforts to maintain peace, stability and ensure safety of navigation and peaceful resolution of all disputes in the South China Sea in accordance with international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea," he said. The prime minister also stated that both countries are in favor of adopting a "code of conduct" in the region’s seas. Read more