Vietnam attaches special importance to developing its comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, affirmed President Truong Tan Sang while receiving Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Hanoi on April 16.

Noting with pleasure the developing bilateral ties in all aspects, the President urged that the Russian Foreign Ministry and relevant ministries and agencies of both countries actively implement agreed agreements and key projects such as the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant, the expansion of the Dung Quat Oil Refinery, and oil and gas projects on Vietnamese and Russian territories.

The two sides should increase cooperation in security-defence, science-technology, education-training and tourism while joining hands in organising activities celebrating important milestones in bilateral relations, especially the 65th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (January 1950-2015), he said.

President Sang also applauded the outcomes of the past negotiation rounds on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, expressing hope that the process will be finalised within this year.

He said he believes that the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership will continuously develop for the interests of the two peoples as well as for peace and stability in the regions and the world at large.

For his part, Lavrov affirmed that Russia will work closely with Vietnam to carry out signed agreements in order to further the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.-VNA