HCM City (VNA) – A two-day seminar oninternational cooperation in a changing world convened in Ho Chi Minh City onFebruary 25 as part of the Vietnam Year in Russia and the Russia Year inVietnam in 2019 programme.

Co-organised by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam’sInstitute for Foreign Policies and Strategic Studies and the Russian-based ValdaiDiscussion Club, the event gathers experts and public officials. Theirdiscussions are set to revolve around the topics of Asia security affairs;multilateral cooperation in Asian and Eurasia; and post-2019 prospects for the Vietnam– Russia relations.

Delivering his opening speech, Deputy Foreign Minister BuiThanh Son said the presence of visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovat the seminar not only reflects its importance but also affirms thelong-standing traditional ties between the two nations.

He highlighted that Vietnam and Russia share a high level ofpolitical trust, increasing economic-trade cooperation, strong security-defenceties, and extensive collaboration in culture-society and education-training.

After the Eurasia Economic Union – Vietnam Free TradeAgreement took effect in October 2016, the Vietnam – Russia trade increases 30percent annually toward a goal of 10 billion USD in 2020, Son added.

The diplomat expected participating scholars and experts toclarify key features of the international context, which is undergoing radicalchanges, assess opportunities and challenges affecting the bilateral relations,and put forth policy recommendations for both sides.

He stated that based on the current fruitful ties, Vietnamand Russia could together capitalise on opportunities and overcome challengesto push their cooperation to new heights, benefiting the two nations, theregion, and the world as well.

Agreeing with Son, Lavrov said the relationship betweenRussia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is important incoping with global changes.

He recommended the sides, based on their common concerns,make efforts in building trade and security cooperation mechanisms in search ofsolutions that could lead to regional and global peace and stability.

The Russian FM said his country is an integral member of theAsia – Pacific and always attentive to increasing cooperation with othercountries in the region, particularly Vietnam, in cybersecurity, health, andcombating terrorism and illegal immigration, among others.

He said the Vietnam – Russia collaboration is getting closeracross defence, economy, culture, education, and tourism, adding that the twoshare similarities in their stances regarding international issues and both arehighly committed to international conventions on external relations.

Russia considers the partnership with Vietnam a key part inits relations with the ASEAN, the diplomat stated, stressing his belief infuture growth of the ties.-VNA