Vietnam attaches great importance to developing strategic partnership with the Russian Federation, said Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh.

While receiving the newly-accredited Russian Ambassador to Vietnam, A. Kovtun, in Hanoi on Dec. 30, the Party leader said he was delighted at the recent developments of the bilateral relationship, especially in the fields of politics, security, national defence, education, training, science, technology, economy and trade.

General Secretary Manh wished Ambassador Kovtun to fulfil his tasks, thus contributing positively to the promotion of Vietnam-Russia relations under agreements signed between senior leaders of the two nations.

Kovtun said he would do his utmost to deepen the Russia-Vietnam strategic partnership for the interest of people from both countries and for the sake of peace, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.

The diplomat conveyed the invitations of President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister V. Putin extended to General Secretary Manh to visit the Russian Federation./.