Boosting cooperation with Vietnam is one of Russia ’s priorities in its foreign policy towards Asia , a senior Russian diplomat has said.

Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrey G. Kovtun made the remarks at a press conference held in Hanoi on December 25 to brief the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and Vietnam in 2013.

Over the recent past, bilateral ties have seen a dynamic development with various high-ranking meetings, he said, adding the relationship has been further reinforced and expanded to additional areas. The two countries implemented many large-scale agreements this year, added Kovtun.

The economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Russia has obtained satisfactory results in addition to visits made by the two countries’ leaders and the effective collaboration between their ministries.

Two-way trade between the two economies reached 3.15 billion USD in the first 10 months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 2 percent. Both sides are working to raise the figure to 7 billion USD by 2015 and 10 billion USD by 2020.

Additionally, the two sides’ collaboration in the spheres of energy, telecommunications, culture and education, tourism, science and technology has grown in a deep manner.

Regarding negotiations for a free trade agreement between the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan and Vietnam in 2013, he said the two sides have worked together to speed up establishing a mutually-beneficial pact, which will bolster commodity exchanges, investment and technology transfer between the stakeholders.

The diplomat also voiced his hope that the two countries will continue to boost their cooperation in line with their interest and economic and technological progress, with the aim of strengthening peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.-VNA