Government officials, economists, researchers and businessmen of Vietnam and members of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan gathered in Moscow on Dec. 21 to discuss economic, trade and investment ties between the two sides, looking to early signing of a bilateral free trade agreement.

Addressing the workshop themed “FTA between Vietnam and the Customs Union members – a useful tool for increase of bilateral trade relations,” Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Bui Dinh Dinh stressed the importance of the Vietnam-Russia strategic partnership and the traditional relations between Vietnam and Kazakhstan and Belarus .

Trade and investment between Vietnam and the three countries are at modest level and not yet match with politic ties, he said, calling for further development and expansion of economic cooperation and trade between the two sides.

Participants discussed measures to promote bilateral economic, trade and investment relations and ways of providing information, looking to the signing of a bilateral FTA, which serves as a legal basis for development of economics, trade and investment between Vietnam and the three Customs Union member.

They agreed that increase of economic and trade relations between Vietnam and each member of the Customs Union will help the four countries continue to further develop and come to the formation of the Vietnam-Customs Union free trade area.

The first session of the research to support a FTA between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan took place in Hanoi on Oct. 11, which was described as an important start to allow the parties to implement the next steps for the signing of the agreement.

The bilateral agreement is expected to open a free trade area, covering over 20.2 million sq.km with 253.5 million population and GDP of 1.5 trillion USD./.