The Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership has bright future, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told Russia’s TASS news agency on the occasion of the visit to Vietnam by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev from April 5-7.

He expressed his delight at the positive and dynamic growth of the bilateral relationship, yielding numerous achievements in politics, economic-trade, defence-security, humanitarian cooperation and people-to-people contact.

The two sides have diversified their collaboration channels while maintaining delegation exchanges and regular high-level meetings, he noted, adding that the visit to Russia by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in November last year created a strong momentum for all-round partnership between the two countries.

Bilateral cooperation mechanisms have been effective, including the Inter-Governmental Committee on economic-trade and science-technology cooperation, and Vietnam and Russia have coordinated closely and supported each other in the global arena in issues of mutual interest, he said.

At the same time, economic and trade ties have also seen remarkable progress with trade reaching 2.59 billion USD in 2014, said PM Nguyen Tan Dung, adding this figure still falls short of their affiliation potential.

Investment cooperation between the two countries has remained stable. Currently, Russia has 104 direct investment projects worth 2 billion USD in Vietnam and Vietnamese firms are operating 20 projects in Russia totalling 2.5 billion USD.

After more than a year of negotiations for a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Asia-Europe Economic Alliance, the two sides concluded the discussions in December of last year and are scheduled to sign a deal in first half of 2015, creating a foundation for boosting economic-trade partnership.

Energy cooperation has continued to be a key pillar in Vietnam-Russia relations, said the Government leader. In oil and gas, businesses from both sides have made joint efforts to implement existing projects and seek new opportunities, he said.

Joint ventures such as Vietsovpetro, Rusvietpetro, Gazpromviet and Vietgazprom are operating effectively in Vietnam’s continental shelf and Russian territory, looking to expand their explorations to new oil fields, said the PM.

He noted that both countries are also working hard together on the Ninh Thuan I nuclear power project.

Industrial and agricultural affiliation has received great attention and both sides are also considering payment in their own currency, creating favourable conditions for trade, he said.

Bilateral defence-security partnership has grown, helping promote benefited from economic growth in both countries and Vietnam and Russia have enjoyed sound education-training, cultural and tourism ties. Russia plans to grant 800 scholarships to Vietnamese students in the 2015-16 academic year. The country is one of top 10 largest markets of the Vietnamese tourism sector with over 364,000 visitors to Vietnam last year.

Vietnam and Russia will celebrate 65 th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, an important chance for both sides to deepen their relationship, stated the PM.

PM Dung said bilateral energy and military technology cooperation are key pillars in the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership looking forward, with coordination in traditional channels and expand to new areas.

The two sides can extend their energy cooperation to oil processing and refinery as well as fuel production. Russia can also provide crude oil to Vietnam on a long-term basis, he said.

In military technology, he suggested stronger coordination in manufacturing, scientific research, and maintenance services.

The Government leader revealed that during the Russian PM’s visit, both sides will review their bilateral partnership and discuss specific orientations and measures to bolster the ties in the future.

The two PMs will exchange ideas on the progress of high-level agreements and major joint projects, as well as a timetable for the signing of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Asia-Europe Economic Alliance, besides the pace of construction of the Ninh Thuan I nuclear power plant and oil and gas projects.

They will share views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, bilateral coordination in the world arena, the situation of the Vietnamese community in Russia and activities to foster people-to-people contacts.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung said he believes that the visit will contribute to enhancing the quality of their bilateral partnership, stimulating the growth of each country for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.-VNA