Vietnam and Russia should re-examine their prioritised projects regularly in the 2009-2012 period, especially those in energy, science and technology as part of an effort to deepen their strategic partnership and bring practical benefits to their people, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

PM Dung said this while holding a reception in Hanoi on October 20 for the visiting Russian Minister of Industry and Trade, Victor Khristenko, who is currently here for a meeting of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-governmental Committee.

The PM was briefed on the Russian minister’s talks with Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang where both agreed upon ways and means to further the two countries’ relationship in economics, trade and investment.

The Vietnamese leader expressed satisfaction at the practical and wide-ranging developments in the two countries’ traditional relationship and reiterated that Vietnam always attaches importance to its traditional friendship and strategic partnership with Russia.

He suggested that both sides should work closely in carrying out the agreements that were reached at this Inter-governmental Committee meeting, and in particular, removing difficulties that are hindering bilateral cooperation projects.

The Russian guest told his host that the visit offers him a chance to witness the effective implementation of previously agreed cooperative deals in economy, trade, investment, energy, education and training.

He said during this Inter-governmental Committee meeting, the two sides signed an action plan to boost their economies, two-way trade and investment through 2012. This action plan also details prioritised tasks for the Vietnam-Russia strategic partnership to be undertaken annually.

According to the Russian minister, hi-tech and energy cooperation was a bright spot in the two countries’ relationship in 2009./.