Vietnamese leaders sent letters of congratulations to their Russian counterparts on June 11 on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day (June 12).

State President Truong Tan Sang extended his congratulations to President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent his message to Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also conveyed a message of congratulations to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

On the occasion, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations and the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City jointly held a ceremony to celebrate Russia’s 25th Independence Day.

Recalling important milestones in Russian history, Russian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Alexey Vladimirovich said Russia has made great achievements in modernizing its political system, reforming the economy, improving local living conditions and increasing its role and prestige in the international arena.

In the past years, the time-honoured friendship between Russia and Vietnam has been continually promoted with cooperation in trade, investment, defence security, science, education and culture, he affirmed.-VNA