TheDeputy PM made the statement while meeting visiting Russian Ministerfor Economic Development E. S. Nabiullina in Hanoi on Aug. 23.
Heexpressed his belief that the prospect was based on the ongoing qualitydevelopment of political, economic, cultural and education cooperationbetween the two countries and the active preparations from both sidesfor negotiations of the bilateral free trade agreement.
Deputy PMHai expressed his hope that the two sides would set up joint venturesin mechanical engineering, chemicals and pharmaceutical industry, andthat Russia’s potential in Vietnam would lead to an expansion ofSoutheast Asian and Asian markets.
Minister E. S. Nabiullinaexpressed her pleasure at the fine development of relations between thetwo countries despite the global economic downturn and highlyappreciated the implementation of some major projects in energy andbanking, stressing that energy was a top priority in Vietnam-Russiacooperation.
Deputy PM Hai affirmed that Russia was Vietnam’s strategic partner in energy. In oil and gas, the two sides havecarried out bilateral cooperation projects and expanded cooperation withthird partners.
Besides projects in oil and gas, electricity andcoal, Vietnam wants to speed up cooperation projects on nuclear powerwith Russia, he said./.