President meets Russian, Turkish foreign ministers
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President Nguyen Minh Triet (right) with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Ha Noi yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Khang |
HA NOI — President Nguyen Minh Triet yesterday met Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov, who is in Viet Nam to attend the ASEAN regional forum and the ASEAN-Russia Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
The two sides expressed their pleasure at the development of the relationship between the two countries, especially in politics, security and defence, economics, trade, cultural, education, and science and technology sectors.
Triet said visits by leaders of the two countries and the recent visit to Russia by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh would raise the level of the Viet Nam-Russia strategic partnership.
He said Viet Nam was preparing to welcome Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to the second ASEAN-Russia Summit.
More investors
Viet Nam wished to see more Turkish investors, Triet said at another meeting with Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu.
Davutoglu visited Viet Nam to sign documents marking Turkey's accession to ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Co-operation (TAC).
Triet praised Turkey's achievement and thanked it for its support for Viet Nam at the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia (CICA) and its attendance at the G-20 Summit in June.
He spoke highly of Turkey's role in the region and the world, hailing its position as a bridge between Asia and Europe. He added that Viet Nam attached much importance to boosting co-operation with Turkey in every aspect.
Triet said ties between the two countries had been developed actively and that Turkey was Viet Nam's second biggest business partner in the West Asian region, adding that the two countries were striving for a bilateral trade of US$1 billion.
He suggested not only an increase in visits by high-ranking delegations but a boost in visits by officials at all levels.
Davutoglu thanked Viet Nam for advocating Turkey's accession to TAC in the year Viet Nam was ASEAN chair and congratulated the country on its celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Ha Noi.
He said Viet Nam was a rising star in Asia thanks to its socio-economic development and stable politics, adding that this was why Turkey wanted to develop the relationship and be a partner in international and regional forums.
Davutoglu passed on an invitation for Triet to pay an official visit to Turkey. He said it would be the first by a Vietnamese State leader during 32 years of bilateral diplomatic relations.
Triet accepted the invitation and extended President Abdullah Gul of Turkey an invitation to visit Viet Nam.
Cosmonaut history
The President yesterday also received Vietnamese cosmonaut Pham Tuan and Russian cosmonaut Victor Gorbatko on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the successful Viet Nam – Russia friendship space-flight mission.
Welcoming the two cosmonauts, President Triet emphasised that the first Viet Nam – Russian space flight was an historical event that brought pride to both countries. The successful flight has also served as a beautiful symbol for the 60 years of traditional friendship, comprehensive co-operation and strategic partnership between Viet Nam and the former Soviet Union and Russia today.
President Triet expressed his pleasure over the continuously developing relationship between the two countries and expressed his hope that Russia would increase its presence in the region and the world.— VNS