Russia-Vietnam Relations See Prosperity in 2008: VOR

The Voice of Russia (VOR) said on December 23 that this year has been seen as a milestone in the relations between Russia and Vietnam with exchanging a series of high-profile visits and the two-way trade hitting high record of US$1.5 billion, Vietnam News Agency reported.

 

The top diplomatic event of the year is Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet’s visit to Russia in late October 2008, which contributed to tighten the bilateral cooperation as well as brought 12 cooperation documents, VOR said.   

  

The radio spoke highly of an agreement, under which Vietnam would build a fertilizer plant in Russia, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the construction of a bauxite aluminum complex in Vietnam.

 

The MoU has paid the way for RUSAL, a Russian aluminum-production giant, to approach aluminum-rich Vietnam, VOR said, adding that the MoU is evidence that Russia’s large-scale companies are interested in Vietnam.

 

Regarding a cooperation agreement between ITAR-TASS and the Vietnam News Agency, VOR cited President Medvedev as saying that the document is a confident step, thus helping people of the two countries improve mutual understanding, and contribute to strengthening bilateral relations.

 

In 2008, Vietnam organized successfully Vietnam Cultural Days in Russia from September 14-20.

 

Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzkov also paid working visits to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in late November to boost the friendship between the cities and seek business opportunities. (VNA)