State President Truong Tan Sang and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung held a separate receptions for Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Hanoi on April 6, highlighting the significance of the latter’s official Vietnam visit as the two countries celebrate the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

The President echoed the Russian PM’s opinion that accelerating the signing of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurosian Economic Union in the first half this year will facilitate the realisation of the targeted 10 billion USD in trade between the two nations by 2020, as well as stimulating investment and production in the two countries.

The President hailed the talks between the two Prime Ministers and expressed his pleasure at the active implementation of the agreements on oil and gas, and nuclear power between the two nations, including the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant.

He also stressed the need to apply advanced technology, ensure the highest level of security and safety and boost the cooperation in military technology and personnel training.

President Truong Tan Sang also hailed Russia’s plan to foster bilateral banking cooperation, including using national currencies for mutual settlements in a bid to boost trade between the two nations.

For his part, the Russian PM affirmed his country continually backs Vietnam at multi-lateral forums.

He also conveyed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to President Sang to visit Russia on the upcoming occasion of the 70 th anniversary of the great Victory in early May.

The same day, NA Chairman Hung met with the Russian PM, expressing his belief that the outcomes of the talks between the two PMs will serve as a new driving force for the strategic comprehensive ties between Vietnam and Russia.

The NA strongly supports agreements between the two governments, he said, adding that the NA will strengthen its monitoring to ensure effective implementation of the agreements between the two nations

Russian PM Medvedev hailed Vietnam’s significant achievements in recent years, expressing his belief that the relations between the two nations and NAs will continue to develop.

The Russian Government and parliament will support and cooperate with Vietnam in international and regional forums, he said.

He also called for closer cooperation between two countries, people-to-people exchanges as well as improved connection between the respective businesses to contribute to increasing trade between Vietnam and Russia.-VNA