The strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia has witnessed many positive developments and gained significant achievements in a range of fields including politics, defence, economics, energy, culture and tourism.

Russia ’s Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City , Anatoli Vasilievich Borovik, stated this at a ceremony to mark Russia Day (June 12, 1990-2012) held by the Ho Chi Minh City chapter of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, on June 8 in Ho Chi Minh City .

Borovik revealed that talks on establishing free trade zones between Vietnam and members of the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan customs union are underway, which will open up new prospects for economic cooperation in a new era.

The Consul General said that cooperation in energy between the two countries will always be given top priority, particularly oil and gas and Vietnam ’s first nuclear power plant in central Ninh Thuan province.

Cultural and educational exchanges have also been stepped up with closer bonds between education establishments, while tourism cooperation between both countries has also seen a good result with 160,000 Russian tourists visiting southern Vietnam in 2011, he said.

Cooperation in defence and national security between both countries has also been expanding, added Borovik.

Last year, two way trade between Vietnam and Russia reached 3.06 billion USD.-VNA