Melnikov led a delegation of parliamentarians from the Russia’s State Duma (lower house) who are members of the CPRF to a meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi in Moscow on September 19.
Ambassador Khoi underlined that Vietnam attaches great importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, expressing his hope that the two countries will continue to promote their bilateral ties in areas of mutual strength such as oil and gas, agriculture, and garment and textile.
He voiced a number of recommendations for both sides to bolster their trade, investment and tourism partnership, including the resumption of direct air routes between the two countries.
The diplomat thanked the Russian Government for backing the Vietnamese community in Russia to settle down, proposing that the Russian State Duma continue to support the community.
For his part, Melnikov said he hopes the 24th meeting of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Governmental Committee slated for later this year will be fruitful, and touched upon the Vietnam visit by parliamentarians from the Russian State Duma this year.
Melnikov showed support to Ambassador Khoi on organising Vietnamese-language courses for Vietnamese children in Russian schools, and committed to help in opening a Vietnamese class in schools in Moscow.
Vietnam and Russia should also increase the organisation of cultural and people-to-people exchange activities to reinforce the solidarity between the two nations, thus fostering their all-round partnership, he said.
Ambassador Khoi also conveyed the invitation to visit Vietnam from head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung to Melnikov.
