On the morning of January 15, at the Government headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin co-chaired the Vietnam - Russia High-Level Business Dialogue jointly organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.
The event was also attended by Deputy Prime Ministers, representatives of ministries, departments and branches of the two countries, and nearly 100 leading enterprises of Vietnam and Russia, operating in the fields of trade, investment, energy, transportation, logistics, agriculture, construction...
The dialogue includes 3 sessions, focusing on 3 important areas of cooperation: Trade, investment, agriculture; energy cooperation (oil and gas and nuclear energy); transportation, logistics.
Speaking at the Dialogue, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Russia is not only built on a historical foundation and close friendship, but also has the support of the two governments and the efforts of businesses on both sides.
The Prime Minister pledged that Vietnam will continue to improve the investment environment, reform administrative procedures, and create favorable conditions for Russian enterprises to develop production and business in Vietnam.
The Prime Minister said that economic relations have not yet been commensurate with the good political and diplomatic relations between the two countries, especially the sentiments between the two nations and peoples; the potential differences, outstanding opportunities, and competitive advantages in bilateral relations have not been fully exploited.
The Prime Minister expressed his wish to listen to the opinions of businesses from both countries, those who directly develop economic relations, promote exchanges between the two peoples; discuss difficulties and obstacles that need to be resolved, find solutions to connect businesses, connect the two economies more deeply, comprehensively and effectively, develop economic relations between the two countries in a sustainable, effective and profound manner, contributing to promoting political and diplomatic relations and vice versa, good political and diplomatic relations are the premise and basis for better and more effective economic relations.
Noting that Vietnam has market strengths with 17 FTAs signed with 65 leading economies in the world, the Prime Minister asked businesses on both sides to promote a dynamic, proactive and creative spirit to remove obstacles. The Government will also facilitate cooperation between businesses to concretize and implement high-level agreements.
The Prime Minister said that the two sides have agreed to increase bilateral trade turnover, diversify markets, products, and supply chains, and quickly license products and goods. Businesses must also be flexible and creative in connecting the two markets. Vietnam's e-commerce growth rate is among the highest in the region, and this is also a new form of cooperation.
Along with that, the Prime Minister suggested that there should be more breakthroughs in energy cooperation, expanding the space for cooperation in oil and gas exploration and exploitation; promoting cooperation in the field of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes (including human resource training, technology transfer, financial incentives, experience transfer and improving management capacity, ensuring nuclear safety and communicating about the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes).
Regarding logistics and transportation, the Prime Minister said that breakthrough cooperation directions are sea routes, railways, and subways, including connecting railway lines, cooperation in technology, management, human resource training, and production of train cars, etc.
Promoting breakthrough areas in Vietnam-Russia economic-trade cooperation
For his part, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that Russia considers Vietnam an important partner in the region. Vietnam is also the first country to sign a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, of which Russia is a member.
The Russian Prime Minister emphasized the promotion of logistics infrastructure connectivity, creating a favorable business environment and encouraging strategic cooperation projects between the two countries.
The Russian Prime Minister also affirmed that bilateral economic relations will continue to be strengthened, especially in key areas such as energy, high-tech agriculture and logistics, aiming towards sustainable development and contributing to the common interests of both countries.
Agreeing with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the Russian Prime Minister said that the current bilateral trade turnover of only about 5 billion USD is not commensurate with the great potential between the two countries. Informing that Russia is very interested in logistics issues, the Russian Prime Minister assessed that Vietnam has become an important logistics center. Russia wishes and is ready to cooperate with Vietnam to promote transport cooperation; as well as supply industrial products, cooperate in implementing nuclear power projects.
Appreciating Vietnam's e-commerce development and efforts to digitize state management, the Russian Prime Minister also said that Russia is ready to share experiences and promote cooperation in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
At the Dialogue, businesses from the two countries frankly shared difficulties and obstacles in the process of cooperation and development of projects in each other's territories, as well as measures to increase trade and investment turnover between Vietnam and the Russian Federation in the coming time.
The two Prime Ministers, together with representatives of ministries, departments and sectors of the two countries, directly listened and responded, showing special interest and strong commitment to removing barriers and promoting cooperation between the business communities of the two sides.
Assessing the topics of dialogue, especially agriculture, energy and transportation, as three areas in which Russia has strengths and Vietnam has needs, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh assigned specific tasks to Vietnamese agencies to continue discussing with Russian partners to implement specific cooperation.
On the Vietnamese side, businesses highlighted a number of challenges such as complicated customs clearance procedures in Russia, a lack of logistics infrastructure, and the need to improve investment policies.
TH Group, a representative of Vietnam, shared its experience in implementing high-tech agricultural projects in Russia. Ms. Thai Huong, founder and Chairwoman of the TH Group Strategy Council, said that TH is currently the largest Vietnamese investor in Russia in the agricultural sector.
She said the decision to invest in Russia was natural because Russia spared no effort, stood side by side, and wholeheartedly supported Vietnam in its national liberation effort.
But investing in Russia is not only a decision of friendship, but also a decision to seize the "golden spot" in business, because Russia's policies to encourage agricultural investment are very transparent and attractive, unified from the central to local levels, encouraging domestic and international investors.
For example, TH's projects are currently receiving support such as 30% refund of total investment value, 3/4 interest rate support... TH commits to long-term investment in Russia and hopes that preferential policies for projects will be retained.
On the Russian business side, representatives from the Russian Export Center and the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation also shared their views on the potential for cooperation in the fields of energy, trade and investment with the Vietnamese market.
These areas are not only strategic but also closely linked to the goals of sustainable development, environmental protection and social security.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin emphasized that the Russian Government is always ready to create favorable conditions to support Vietnamese businesses to expand operations and seize opportunities in the Russian Federation.
Emphasizing the affection that the people of the two countries have for each other, the Russian Prime Minister proposed expanding the scope of economic, trade and investment cooperation. In particular, appreciating TH Group for its large investment in Russia, the Russian Prime Minister invited Vietnamese investors to invest in Russia on the basis of sharing common values and mutual benefits, especially in the Far East region with many preferential policies on land, transportation and finance.
As an important opportunity for businesses and government representatives of the two countries to meet, discuss and seek solutions to overcome difficulties, the event not only strengthens economic and trade cooperation but also opens up many new development opportunities in strategic and potential areas, contributing to ensuring social security, promoting sustainable development and common prosperity for both countries.
Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/hai-thu-tuong-dong-chu-tri-doi-thoai-doanh-nghiep-cap-cao-viet-nam-lien-bang-nga-385711.html
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