(VOVworld) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is on the last day of an official visit to Belarus, part of a trip to Russia and Belarus from May 12 – 17. The trip marks a milestone in cooperative ties between Vietnam and those two countries. It confirms Vietnam’s policy of comprehensive cooperation with Russia and Belarus, enhances the already fine political relations, and creates a broad foundation for deeper cooperation in economics, trade, security, national defense, and education.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Russian counterpart Dmitri Medvedev (Photo: Thanh Chung)
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Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to Russia was a major topic for Vietnamese and Russian media and caught the special attention of other world media. The visit’s fruitful outcomes were confirmed in a press conference following his talks with Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev. Medvedev said Russia and Vietnam have built a deep trust and special relationship. Bilateral relations are developing dynamically and Prime Minister Dung’s visit is evidence.
During meetings and talks, leaders of the two countries agreed that elevating bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership has generated a strong momentum to intensify bilateral cooperation in the new period. Vietnam and Russia agreed on a list of high-priority investment projects in both countries. Seven cooperation agreements were signed in culture, sports, tourism, the judiciary, financial credit, and rail transport. The two countries pledged to increase two-way trade revenues to 7 billion USD by 2015 and 10 billion USD by 2020. The two Prime Ministers promised to tighten cooperation in military operations, military training, and oil and gas, calling them the pillars of comprehensive strategic cooperation.
Prime Minister Dung’s successful working visit to Russia, the 18th biggest investor in Vietnam, has consolidated friendly relations, understanding, and trust with Russia and provided momentum toward the Vietnam – Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of the future.
Belarusian Prime Minister M. Myasnikovich welcomes Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (Photo: VNA)
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After Russia, Prime Minister Dung continued on to Belarus from May 15-17, opening a new chapter in bilateral friendship and a basis for further cooperation. Implementation of the Vietnam – Belarus Economic Cooperation Program from 2013 to 2015 will increase trade revenue to 1 billion USD and encourage the Free Trade Agreement negotiations between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. The visit upholds the current fine relations and multifaceted cooperation in politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, education, technology, and labor. Dung and the Belarus leaders acknowledged the importance of expanding multifaceted cooperation and pledged to fulfill the targets of the Vietnam – Belarus Economic Cooperation Program from 2013 – 2015. Belarus’ leaders said they consider Vietnam a key partner in Southeast Asia and want to deepen bilateral cooperation.
Consolidating and promoting relations with traditional neighbors is Vietnam’s consistent policy. Prime Minister Dung’s visits to Russia and Belarus have confirmed that policy and intensified Vietnam’s relations with these two countries.
Anh Huyen