Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung (L) and his Russian counterpart Maksim Akimov at the meeting. (Photo: VNA) Moscow (VNA) – Vietnam and Russia reached consensus on various measures to step up bilateral ties during the 21st session of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Governmental Committee for Economic-Commercial and Scientific-Technological Cooperation in Moscow on October 29. They concurred to implement high-level agreements reached during the official visit to Russia by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong last September. Both sides held that economic, trade and investment ties between Vietnam and Russia have developed dynamically over the past time, with the effective realisation of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union to which Russia is a member. Two-way trade reached 3.55 billion USD in 2017, up 31 percent against the same period last year. The turnover stood at 3.4 billion USD in the … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Russia seek measures to forge bilateral ties
Russia
NATO shows Russia its military might in giant exercises
OSLO — Norway hosts NATO’s biggest exercises since the end of the Cold War from Thursday, to remind Russia the Alliance stands united despite seeds of doubt planted by US President Donald Trump. Some 50,000 soldiers, 10,000 vehicles, 65 ships and 250 aircraft from 31 countries are taking part in Trident Juncture 18, which is aimed at training the Atlantic Alliance to defend a member state after an aggression. "In recent years, Europe’s security environment has significantly deteriorated," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, of Norway, said. "Trident Juncture sends a clear message to our nations and to any potential adversary. NATO does not seek confrontation but we stand ready to defend all Allies against any threat," he told reporters on Wednesday. While the "potential adversary" has not been officially identified, Russia is on everybody’s minds. The country, which shares a 198-kilometre border with Norway in the Far North, has repeatedly flaunted its … [Read more...] about NATO shows Russia its military might in giant exercises
Cuba president to visit Russia, China, Vietnam in November
By Reuters  October 25, 2018 | 08:39 am GMT+7 Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel speaks during the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 26, 2018. Photo by Reuters/Carlo Allegri Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel will visit Russia and Asian allies including Vietnam on his first tour abroad early next month. Following a news conference focused on what Rodriguez called the U.S. decision to advance down a “path of confrontation,” Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on Wednesday that Diaz-Canel would also transit through some western European capitals, without offering details. Tensions between the island and the United States have escalated under U.S. President Donald Trump, who has reverted to Cold War characterizations of Cuba and partially rolled back the detente embarked upon by his predecessor Barack Obama. Cuba and the Europe Union have improved relations in … [Read more...] about Cuba president to visit Russia, China, Vietnam in November
Russia hammering out secret plan to rid economy of US dollar
File photo Reuters Exporters will likely get perks like taxation benefits including quicker VAT returns and other stimulus to ditch the greenback. The Russian government is specifying the details of the plan that will soon be submitted to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. “The plan hasn’t been submitted to the PM yet. We still have disagreements between technical departments, now we will polish them quickly and, I hope, the government will soon consider it,” Russia’s deputy finance minister Alexey Moiseev told Reuters. When asked whether the plan would be published after this, Moiseev said: “No, the plan is for official use only.” The minister added that Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development and the Central Bank of Russia are working on the details. The Russian authorities earlier said that the plan does not prohibit the circulation of the US dollar in the country, but includes a number of measures to stimulate the use of national … [Read more...] about Russia hammering out secret plan to rid economy of US dollar
Russia will quit Council of Europe if opponents insist on its expulsion, says Lavrov
Viet Nam News MOSCOW — Russian will quit the Council of Europe voluntarily if its opponents in the association insist on its expulsion, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday. "I don’t think presence in the Council of Europe is more important for Russia than it is for European countries. It is my firm position. We joined the Council of Europe being convinced that it is geared to ensure a common European universal legal and humanitarian space," he said in an interview with the EuroNews television channel. "Those who have undermined this space through illegitimate actions that violate the Charter and striped the Russian delegation of equal rights with other delegations are aware of what they are doing. I am sure of that. If they want to expel Russia from the Council of Europe, we will not give them such a pleasure. We will quit it voluntarily," he stressed. According to the Russian top diplomat, Council of Europe officials who will be elected with … [Read more...] about Russia will quit Council of Europe if opponents insist on its expulsion, says Lavrov