On the occasion of the anniversary from 17 to 19 of May St.Petersburg held a complex of various events. Among them: the Russian-Vietnamese conference, the cultural and business forum, excursions to industrial enterprises for the Vietnamese side, experience exchange meetings, visits to the universities of St. Petersburg.
The opening ceremony of the Russian-Vietnamese conference was attended by Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko, member of the Politburo of the Communists Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, Secretary of the City Committee of the Communist Party of the city of Ho Chi Minh com. Nguyen Thien Nyan, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Navy - First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Vice Admiral Andrei Volozhinsky, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the Russian Federation, com. Ngo Duc Manh, rector of the St. Petersburg State University Nikolai Kropachev, deputy rector of the Ho Chi Minh Political Academy, com. Nguyen Duy Baca.
Speaking at the opening of the conference, St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko noted that the long-standing relations between the Russian and Vietnamese capital of the North developed into a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Today, St. Petersburg is one of the world's leading centers for training of specialists in Vietnamese language and culture. The city has a unique Ho Chi Minh Institute, in which scientists deeply study the legacy of an outstanding leader.
In his turn, member of the Politburo of the CPV Central Committee, Secretary of the City Committee of the Communist Party of the City of Ho Chi Minh com. Nguyen Thien Nyan thanked the Government of St. Petersburg for fruitful cooperation. He said that historical ties with Petrograd-Petersburg will always mean a lot for the Vietnam. There is a saying in Vietnam: "When you drink water, remember its source".
Among the promising areas for the cooperation development com. Nguyen Thien Nyan noted investments, trade, ecology, education, science and tourism. He also said that the tourist routes to St. Petersburg, such as "White Nights" and "Golden Autumn" are very popular in Vietnam. In addition, the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution celebrated last year caused a significant interest.
The confidence was expressed that in connection with the upcoming Cross-Year of Russia and Vietnam in 2019, bilateral contacts between St. Petersburg and Ho Chi Minh City should intensify. And activities in celebration of the 95th anniversary of the first arrival of com. Ho Chi Minh (Nguyen Ay Kuok) in Petrograd will certainly give a tangible impetus to this.
Chief of the Main Staff of the Russian Navy - First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Vice Admiral Andrei Volozhinsky, for his part, congratulated all participants of the event on the commemorative date. He noted the positive experience of cooperation with Vietnam and said that St.Petersburg will be glad to host Vietnamese delegation during the Naval Parade in July.
The rector of the St. Petersburg State University Nikolai Kropachev spoke about the various forms of cooperation with Vietnamese universities and scientific organizations. He noted the holding of international joint conferences, educational programs, as well as exhibitions, musical meetings and books translation.
In addition to the honorary participants of the conference, about the topical status and prospects of cooperation between St. Petersburg and Vietnam in the field of investment, health and science and higher education the heads of the profile committees of the St. Petersburg administration I.A. Babyuk, M.V. Dubina and A.S. Maximov were told.
A meeting of the Governor of St. Petersburg, G. S. Poltavchenko, with a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Secretary of the city party committee of the sister city of St. Petersburg - Ho Chi Minh City com. Nguyen Thien Nyan was held at 13.00 in Smolny.
During the conversation, the parties discussed the various aspects of interaction between the partner cities of St. Petersburg and Ho Chi Minh.
Mr. Poltavchenko spoke about the best practices of St. Petersburg in the field of wastewater treatment and water disposal, as well as training of profile specialists in the field of housing and communal services. In addition, developments in the pharmaceutical industry and the production of modern medical equipment, in particular, used in radiation therapy have been noted. The interaction in the field of information technology and security - the areas in which St. Petersburg has also made significant progress - was marked especially promising.
Moreover, the Governor expressed the opinion that for the further rapprochement of cities, it is necessary to establish and develop youth and school exchanges so that the younger generation could explore each other's history and culture more deeply.
In the opinion of Mr. Poltavchenko, an immediate stimulus for all-round cooperation intensifying could be direct air communication between cities. The capacity of the renovated Pulkovo airport is 18 million passengers per year.
The head of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Thien Nyan confirmed the interest of the Vietnamese side in cooperation in this indicated areas.
Ho Chi Minh City is an important financial and economic center of Vietnam. GRP (gross regional product) in the city is about a quarter of Vietnam's GDP. The population of the city is about 8 million people, and every 6 years this number is increasing by another 1 million people.
In this regard, issues in the field of transport and transport infrastructure, water treatment, housing construction, industrial development and the introduction of innovations are extremely urgent for the city.
However, Nguyen Thien Nyan noted with regret that the added value of products produced in Ho Chi Minh City is still insignificant. The city is interested in the introduction of new technologies.
Mr. Poltavchenko confirmed that St. Petersburg is ready to share experience in the creation of "Smart City" and "Safe City" projects, as well as internet-portal "Our Petersburg", developed for the prompt resolution of urban problems on the basis of citizens' applications.
At the end of the meeting, the sides signed a roadmap for the development of cooperation between the Government of St. Petersburg and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City for 2018-2020.
Within the framework of the Russian-Vietnamese cultural-business forum, a meeting of three sections was held today: in the field of water purification and water disposal, public health and scientific and technical cooperation.
Vietnamese specialists visited SUE Vodokanal of St. Petersburg, Center for Proton Therapy "MIBS" and "Center for Development and Support of Entrepreneurship", where a business seminar was held.
In the next two days, Vietnamese specialists will also visit St. Petersburg's sewage disposal facilities, pharmaceutical cluster enterprises, FSUE "St. Petersburg Research Institute of Vaccines and Serums, the enterprise for the production of bacterial preparations of FMBA Russia" as well as leading universities in St. Petersburg.
It is expected that the upcoming meetings, negotiations and profile discussions will make it possible to make a significant breakthrough in the implementation of bilateral cooperation.
The events on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the first arrival of сom. Ho Chi Minh (Nguyen Ay Kuok) to Petrograd will end at the St. Petersburg State University on May 19, the birthday of the Vietnamese leader. Vietnamese delegation at the memorial of Ho Chi Minh here will lay flowers and hold a solemn meeting at 12.00.