The Radio the Voice of Russia (VoR) on January 13 aired a review of the Russia-Vietnam cooperation, quoting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as saying that the year 2009 saw many achievements gained by the two countries in its relations in recent years.

The Russian President was cited as saying that in 2009 Russia ’s cooperation with Vietnam was not affected by the global economic crisis as he mentioned in his talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Moscow last December.

The two countries’ two-way trade rose 4.1 percent to 1.1 billion USD in just nine months of the year, the Russian leader said, also stressing increases in bilateral cooperation in the other fields.

He laid special emphasis on cooperation in energy, citing an example of the Vietsovpetro joint venture company, which has been keeping its effective operation thus far.

Russia ’s Gazprom giant group has entered Vietnam after it received in February a licence to exploit oil as gas in Vietnam ’s continental shelf in coordination with the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group – PetroVietnam.

In addition to that, a new Vietnamese-Russian joint venture called Gazpromviet was set up to undertake mining in the Orenburg region and the Republic of Komi of Russia.

The Russia leader also referred to the construction of Vietnam ’s first nuclear power plant as a new direction in the two countries’ energy cooperation.

In the electricity industry, where bilateral cooperation has lasted for years, the two countries are moving to establish new joint ventures.

Bilateral cooperation in 2009 was also bustling in other areas, said the VoR.

In early 2009, the Vietnam-Russia eye treatment centre was opened in Hanoi , capable of providing treatments for 10,000-20,000 patients and eye check-up for between 40,000-50,000 people.

GTel Mobile, with 40 percent of its legal capital held by the Russian VympelCom group, broadened its “Beeline” mobile services in Vietnam . The joint venture plans to expand its mobile phone coverage over the major cities of Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City , Da Nang , Hai Phong, Can Tho, and 14 other provinces in 2010. It is also mulling over the application of satellite technologies to provide services for mountainous areas.

Late last year, the Vietnam-Russia Bank opened its branch in Moscow to assist Vietnamese businesses in Russia and provide capital for the two countries’ importers and exporters.

Regarding potential for bilateral cooperation development, experts said that trade between the two countries need to reach 3 billion USD in 2010 and 10 billion USD in 2011 and 2012, which would require the Vietnam-Russia Bank to play the major role as financial coordinator to realise the move.

The two countries also recorded great achievements in the technician and military area, an important part in the Vietnam-Russia cooperation in 2009, according to the VoR.

The radio described the working visit to Russia by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, together with his talks with PM Vladimir Putin and the signing of a series of documents regarding economic cooperation, as a significant event that wrapped up the two countries’ cooperation in 2009 successfully.

The VoR voiced its belief that new progress will be made in 2010 to further broaden and strengthen the already close and efficient cooperation between the two countries./.