Russian President Vladimir Putin and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang met media after their talks. (Photo: Nguyen Khang/VNA)

(VOVworld) -  President Truong Tan Sang returned to Hanoi today concluding a successful 5-day trip to Russia to bolster the Vietnam – Russia strategic partnership. VOV reviews the trip.

Over the past decade, relations between Vietnam and Russia have developed practically, in depth, and in a sustainable manner. Objective conditions of the region and the world have been allowing both countries to set up tight cooperation in all fields. This visit by President Truong Tan Sang to Russia took place at the right time for the two to build a new development framework that will bring bilateral ties to a new level.

The Presidents met for the first time at President Putin’s residential palace in the coastal city of Sochi. This unprecedented event bespoke the trust and closeness the Russian President shares with his Vietnamese counterpart, and exemplifies the foreign policy of the new Russian presidential term which ranks Vietnam as an important partner in the Asia – Pacific region. President Putin said ‘The Vietnamese and Russian people have long felt a strong sympathy for each other and this has helped us develop our bilateral ties. Our relationship has developed in all fields with two-way trade turnover reaching more than 3 billion USD last year. We have cooperated in many projects that are essential for both of us’.

Economic and trade relations are seen one of the most important components in the two countries’ comprehensive relations. In an address to hundreds of Vietnamese and Russian enterprises at a business forum, President Sang underscored the need that both should outline breakthrough measures to match bilateral economic and trade relations to the special political ties and potential of each nation. Sang also said that the Vietnamese market always welcomes Russian investors noting ‘The Vietnamese Government always attaches importance to, encourages, and creates the best possible conditions for Russian enterprises and entrepreneurs to do business in Vietnam in all economic sectors, especially traditional areas including trade, oil and gas, energy, mineral exploration, science and technology, education and training, tourism, and labour. Vietnam will facilitate favorable conditions for Russian groups and companies to choose Vietnam as a strategic destination in business expansion and economic cooperation’.

Along with Vietnam – Russia joint statement, seven other agreements were signed during this visit. The two countries are determined to raise two-way trade to 5 billion USD by 2015 and build a Centre of Nuclear Science and Technology, the first nuclear power plant in Vietnam. Vietnam and Russia pledged to focus on military training for Vietnam so that the country’s servicemen can master military equipment. Both promised continued cooperation in oil and gas exploration on Vietnam’s continental shelf pursuant to international laws, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Regarding international issues, the two leaders supported the establishment of an open, equal, and public cooperation security structure on the basis of the legitimate interests of the parties involved. They agreed that territorial disputes and other disputes in the Asian-Pacific region should be resolved by peaceful means without the use of force or the threat to use force, in accordance with international law, particularly the UN Charter and the 1982 UNCLOS. They supported the full implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and the completion of a proposed Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

Anh Huyen