15 March, 2018 in Smolny there was a meeting of the acting chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg, Mr. Markov with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the Russian Federation Comrade Ngo Duc Manh.
Noting the particularly close relations that have developed between Vietnam and St. Petersburg, Comrade Ngo Duc Manh mentioned that his visit today was his first working trip on his new post.
During the trust-based conversation the parties discussed the immediate plans, the main ones being the expansion of economic cooperation, as well as activities related to the upcoming May 17-19 celebration of the 95th anniversary of the first arrival of Ho Chi Minh in Petrograd.
Ngo Duc Manh pointed out that St. Petersburg is a special city for him, not only as the cradle of the Socialist Revolution, but also because Ho Chi Minh began here his journey as a politician and fighter for the freedom of Vietnam from the colonial regime.
Speaking about priority projects, the representatives of both countries agreed that both Russian and Vietnamese side have something to offer each other for the greater contribution of St. Petersburg to the great growth of the foreign trade turnover of two states, that was shown in recent years.
In addition, cooperation plans include mutual exchange of students, interaction in industrial, medical and cultural spheres.
Summing up the results of the talks, Mr. Markov emphasized that the most important would be "the implementation of the announced agreements, its practical application, which will become another confirmation of the long-standing friendship of the Russian and Vietnamese peoples."
For reference:
The visit was organized under the framework of preparations to the International Scientific and Practical Conference, dedicated to the 95th anniversary of Comrade's Nguyen Ai Kuok (Ho Chi Minh) arrival in Petrograd.
Within the framework of the visit a number of official meetings of vietnamese delegation are planned: with the Governor of St. Petersburg Mr. Poltavchenko, the rector of St. Petersburg State University Mr. Kropachev, the acting chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg Mr. Markov.
Within the framework of the conference, there will speeches on topical issues of Russian-Vietnamese bilateral cooperation, including the field of youth policy.