Vietnam is ready to strengthen the multi-faceted relationship with Latvia, especially in economics and trade, and will create favourable conditions for Latvian businesses to penetrate into the Vietnamese market.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet, who is in Moscow to attend the 65 th anniversary of victory of fascism, made the statement during his talks with Latvian President Vandis Zatlers on May 9.

President Triet expressed his wish that Latvia will also facilitate operations of Vietnamese enterprises.

He affirmed that the victory over fascism on May 9, 1945 paved the way for oppressed nations, including Vietnam, to rise up against their oppressors and successfully carry out national liberation revolutions, bringing independence, freedom and development to their countries.

He also thanked the people of the Soviet Union and Latvia for their valuable and effective assistance to Vietnam during its struggle for national independence.

On the same day, President Triet visited the headquarters of Russian state-controlled oil group Zarubezhneft and met with its General Director Nikolai Brunik.

At the meeting, the Vietnamese state leader emphasised the results of cooperation between the two sides through the Vietnam-Russia Oil and Gas Joint Venture (Vietsovpetro). He said the cooperation in the oil and gas sector has helped strengthen and expand the traditional friendship and mutually-beneficiary strategic partnership between the two countries.

For his part, General Director Nikolai Brunik briefed the Vietnamese President about the operations of Zarubezhneft and its affiliates, namely Vietsovpetro and RusVietPetro as well as informed about the group’s business orientations in the coming time, including cooperation in oil and gas exploration and exploitation in Russia and Vietnam ’s territories.

He pledged that the Russian side will strengthen cooperation to help ensure energy security for Vietnam./.