Russian Consul General promises to enhance cooperation with Da Nang

At a recent meeting with some of Da Nang’s press agencies in the city, the new Russian Consul General in Da Nang, Mr Dikushin Valentin Mikhailovich, had an interview with one of Da Nang Newspaper's reporters. He promised to make every effort to strengthen cooperation between the central region, especially Da Nang, and Russian localities.
Q: 2012 saw an ever-increasing number of exchange visits by Vietnamese and Russian high-ranking officials. Does this play a vital role in lifting the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level?
A: This year marked an important milestone in enhancing bilateral ties, which involved numerous high-ranking exchange visits. These included Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to Russia in July, and recent visits to Viet Nam by Russian Prime Minister D.A. Medvedev and the Chair of the Council of the Federation Assembly (Upper House) of the Russian Federation. Since 1991, the two countries have signed more than 70 mutual agreements and protocols on boosting bilateral comprehensive cooperation. A joint statement on the Viet Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership was signed in 2001, and the bilateral ties were brought to a new height in 2010. Russia always considers Viet Nam as a long-lasting friend and a reliable partner in South East Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. In general, our country is giving its priority to consolidating ties with Viet Nam in its foreign policy. Russia always give its appreciation for Viet Nam’s role in promoting relationships between it and ASEAN.
Q: What is your assessment of the potential for expanding cooperation between Da Nang and Russian localities?
A: I am very impressed by Da Nang’s dynamic development in recent years. I realise that the Da Nang leaders have made great efforts to help their city become an economic, cultural, tourism, and educational hub in the central region. Da Nang possesses strengths in many aspects which will help to foster cooperation with Russia. However, the number of Russian tourists and businesses coming to Da Nang is still below the expected figure. So far, Da Nang has only established a twinning relationship with Yaroslav Province. Our country wants to promote tourism cooperation with the city as soon as possible. In reality, some Russia-Da Nang direct flights have been operating since May of this year. Russia’s travel agencies and Vietnamese partners are planning to open direct flights from Moscow, Siberian cities and the Russian Far East to Da Nang next year. As a result, there will be a growing number of Russian visitors and businesses coming to central Viet Nam, especially Da Nang. I believe that the number of Russian-invested restaurants, coffee shops, hotels and holiday resorts will increase considerably in Da Nang. My country wants to expand cooperation in hi-tech projects in Da Nang.
Q: During you term in office, what will you do to enhance the relationships between Da Nang and Russian localities including Sochi and Vladivostok?
A: As the Russian Consul General in Da Nang, I will do my utmost to accelerate the relationships between Russian localities and central Viet Nam. In my view, Da Nang should establish a twinning relationship with Vladivostok City which has strong tourism development and, like Da Nang, is also located on the Pacific Ocean. In addition, Vladivostok’s Far Eastern Federal University has a Vietnamese language faculty and Da Nang University has a Russian language faculty. At present, many development programmes are being implemented in the Far East and Siberian regions. I strongly support the fruitful bilateral relationships.