Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Moscow, Oct. 13 (VNA) -- Viet Nam and Russia issued in Moscow on Oct. 13 a communique on the visit to Russia by General Secretary Nong Duc Manh of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee from Oct. 9-13, 2002.

Following is the full text of the communique:

1. At the invitation of Russian President V.V. Putin, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Nong Duc Manh paid an official visit to Russia during October 9 - 13, 2002.

General Secretary Nong Duc Manh held talks with Russian President V.V. Putin and had meetings with Prime Minister M.M. Kasyanov, Speakers of the Federation Council (Upper House) and the DUMA (Lower House) of Russia X.M. Mironov and G.N. Seleznev, Moscow Mayor Iu.M. Luzhkov and leaders of the Communist Party of Russia and Party of Russian Unity and Concord.

In Moscow, General Secretary Nong Duc Manh paid floral tributes to the Unknown Soldiers' Monument, the V.I. Lenin Monument and the Ho Chi Minh Statue. He met with representatives of the Russia-Viet Nam Friendship Association, Russian advisors and experts who had worked in Viet Nam in different times. General Secretary Nong Duc Manh visited St Petersburg city where he met Mayor V.A. Yakovlev.

2. The talks took place in a friendly and open atmosphere. The two sides informed each other of the situation in their respective countries and exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

The Russian side highly evaluated the renewal process and active stance of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in settling international and regional issues.

The Vietnamese side warmly welcomed Russia's achievements in its national reform and construction, thus raising Russia's prestige in the international arena.

The two countries' leaders noted that Viet Nam and Russia have the basic foundation and a great potential for further development of the time-honoured friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Russia, thus meeting the two peoples' basic interests and contributing to peace and security and accelerating cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region.

The two sides affirmed the historic significance of the Treaty on the foundation for friendly relations between the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Russian Federation on June 16, 1994, the Viet Nam-Russia Joint Statement on August 25, 1998 and the Joint Statement on the strategic partnership between the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Russian Federation on March 1, 2001 and the agreement on expansion and development of their friendship and cooperation on an equal footing and for mutual benefits based on these documents.

3. The two countries' leaders defined the concrete steps of development in political, economic, cultural, scientific and technical, educational and training domains.

The two sides agreed to continue boosting economic and commercial cooperation, first of all in oil and gas and electricity sector, take measures to increase the exchange of goods, develop cooperation between localities, and expand investment cooperation in various domains so as to rapidly take the Viet Nam-Russia economic and commercial ties to a level commensurate with their strategic partnership, considering it an important guarantee for a long-term and sustainable development of the relationship between the two countries, the communique said.

The two sides expressed interests in broadening ties in the humanities area, noting that the holding of "Cultural Days" in Viet Nam and Russia - "Ha Noi Days" and "Moscow Days" - are important and timely events of special significance for closer relations between the two peoples.

The Vietnamese side showed interest in a continued training of cadres in various fields at Russian universities.

The Vietnamese side also expressed thanks to Russia for creating conditions for Vietnamese citizens to study and work in Russia, which manifests the friendship between the two countries.

4. Through their exchange of views, the two parties affirmed their close and identical position on most of international and regional issues. They held that the United Nations should increase its active role in world affairs and prevent any scheme and action which runs counter to the UN Charter as well as to the principles and norms of international law. The two sides agreed that disputes should be solved by political solutions through peaceful negotiations on the basis of mutual respect for each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the right of nations to self-determination, non-intervention into other nations' internal affairs and non-confrontation.

The two parties stressed the importance of concerted efforts by the international community in the struggle against the spreading threat of international terrorism.

They also noted the increasing role of the Asia-Pacific region on the international arena, highly valued the role of regional forums such as APEC, ASEAN, ARF and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in creating favourable conditions for multilateral cooperation for mutual benefits in the region.

5. The two nations' leaders advocated more regular contacts at various levels, including at the top level, consolidation of relations between State agencies and socio-political organisations, and regular exchange of views on the most important issues in bilateral cooperation and on international matters.

The two parties held that the official visit to the Russian Federation by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee Nong Duc Manh was a success, greatly contributing to developing and deepening the time-honoured friendship between Viet Nam and Russia.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee Nong Duc Manh expressed thanks to Russia for its warm welcome and hospitality accorded to him during the visit and invited Russian President V.V. Putin to visit Viet Nam again at an appropriate time. The Russian President accepted the invitation with thanks.--Enditem