(VOV) - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung arrived in Minsk on Wednesday, beginning a three-day official visit to Belarus at the invitation of Prime Minister Mikhail Myiasnikovich.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with Russian President Vladimir Putin Source: VGP/ Nhat Bac

The visit aims to boost the two countries’ multifaceted cooperation, including increasing bilateral trade to one billion USD as set by an economic cooperation program for 2013-2015. The visit also aims to speed up negotiations for a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia.

During his visit to Russia on Wednesday, Dung met with President Vladimir Putin in Sochi. Dung informed his host of the outcomes of his talks with Russian President Dmitry Medveded and exchanged views on the current situation and orientations for bilateral cooperation in order to develop the strategic partnership in a practical and effective manner: "Vietnam appreciates Russia’s theory of foreign relations signed by the President in February 2013. Russia confirms that Vietnam continues to be an important partner and constantly boosts its strategic partnership with Vietnam".

President Putin said that energy cooperation is one of the top priorities of the two countries and Russia will continue its oil and gas exploitation activities on Vietnam’s continental shelf and will encourage expanded joint ventures  in Russia. President Putin: "Our bilateral relations cover oil and gas energy, machine manufacturing, and military technology. I hope that our cooperation and joint companies between the two countries will continue to develop".

The two sides vowed to work closely to build the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant as scheduled, based on state-of-the-art technology to ensure safety, quality and maximal efficiency. Prime Minister Dung and President Putin spoke highly of cooperation in military technology, affirming their continuing commitment to cooperation in weapon and equipment manufacturing and maintenance. The leaders agreed to work closely in education, training, science, and technology. After the meeting, Dung witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group and Rosneft Corporation on searching, surveying and exploiting oil and gas in Russia, Vietnam, and third countries. As the Vietnamese Prime Minister concluded his visit to Russia, both countries issued a joint communiqué, stressing that the visit boosts the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia.