Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed that the Party, State and people of Vietnam always treasure the promotion of the traditional friendship with Ukraine.

He made the affirmation while receiving visiting Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in Hanoi on March 26.

The Party chief said he regarded the Ukrainian President’s visit as an important milestone to pave the way for new prospects and driving force for the two countries to strengthen and enhance their “comprehensive partnership and cooperation”.

The Ukrainian President said he was happy to see Ukraine ’s ties with Vietnam being elevated to “comprehensive partnership and cooperation”, affirming that Ukraine regards Vietnam as an important partner in Southeast Asia .

There was a meeting between Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych during which both asserted the two countries’ determination to deepen their wide-ranging cooperation.

He said he expects the Ukrainian President’s visit will bring the two countries’ relations to a new height and pledged to instruct relevant Vietnamese agencies to carry out agreements reached at the talks between Presidents Viktor Yanukovych and Nguyen Minh Triet.

PM Dung expressed hopes to broaden Vietnam ’s cooperation with Ukraine in culture, science and technology, security and defence, and especially in education and training, while underlining the need to resume the exchange of trade after it was affected by the global economic crisis.

President Viktor Yanukovych said, “ Ukraine is ready to cooperate and assist Vietnam in the fields of oil and gas, mineral processing, science and technology, space technology, the manufacturing of power generators, security and defence.”

On the day, the Vietnam-Ukraine Investment and Trade Forum was held in Hanoi in the presence of Presidents Viktor Yanukovych and Nguyen Minh Triet.

The event was aimed at facilitating efforts by Vietnamese and Ukrainian businesses to seek partners and cooperation opportunities.

In 2010, Vietnam and Ukraine registered a two-way trade of 255 million USD, including 140 million USD worth of Vietnam ’s exports.

President Viktor Yanukovych expressed his hope that this value will be raised in the coming time./.