The signing and implementation of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) will be a great and important step, lifting the time-honoured relationship between Vietnam and EEU members to a new height.

Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Le Hai Binh responded to reporters’ queries relating to Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s recently concluded official visit to Vietnam and the FTA, which was discussed at length during the visit, at the ministry’s regular press conference on April 9.

Binh told the media that Vietnam and the EEU issued a joint statement on the conclusion of negotiations on the agreement in December last year and are looking to sign the document within the first half of this year.

The parties agreed on the basic contents of the agreement with a comprehensive scale, high commitment, equal benefits and specific conditions of each party included, he said.

The agreement will create a new market for Vietnamese products as well as open up opportunities to expand trade and investment between Vietnam and the union’s State members of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, he added.-VNA