President Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed that Vietnam always treasures and is grateful for the great help that the Russian people, including veterans and friends, have been giving to Vietnam in the struggle for national independence and unification in the past as well as in the construction and development of the country today.

 President Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets representatives of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Association of Russian Veterans in Vietnam on December 2 . (Photo: VNA)

He made the remarks on December 2 at a meeting with representatives of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Association of Russian Veterans in Vietnam within the framework of his official visit to the Russia.

Appreciating the results of the associations' work, the State leader said that their activities have contributed to the success of the Vietnam-Russia and Russia-Vietnam Year launched in 2019, helping to educate the young generation about the traditional friendship and special affection between the two peoples. He hoped that in the coming time when the COVID-19 pandemic is under control, experts and veterans will have the opportunity to visit Vietnam and continue to cultivate the friendship between the two countries.

The President said he expects that the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association will continue to support the Vietnamese community in Russia to study and live stably, better integrate into Russian society, and contribute more to strengthening the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

At the meeting, representatives of the associations emphasised that they would continue to make active contributions to the development of the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia.

They also suggested that the two countries have more favourable policies on visas to expand cooperation opportunities, people-to-people exchanges, and economic, trade and investment ties. They proposed the Vietnamese Government and relevant agencies facilitate the exchanges between war veterans of Russia and the Vietnam People's Army in the future.
 

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (third from left) presents a gift to Kaluga Governor Vladislav Shapsha on December 2. (Photo:VNA)

On the same day, at a meeting with Vladislav Shapsha, Governor of Kaluga Oblast, President Phuc thanked and appreciated the provincial government for creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to invest in the locality, including an investment project of TH Group.

He highlighted the fact that many Vietnamese students are studying in Kaluga, including Kaluga University, wishing the province to strengthen cooperation with localities of Vietnam and enhance exchanges between the people of the two countries. The Vietnamese leader also urged the Kaluga authorities to continue to support and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese students and communities to study, do business and live here.

Shapsha expressed his hope that more and more Vietnamese students and businesses will come to work, study and invest in Kaluga, thereby strongly promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries./.

Q.Hoa t.h / VNA