NDO- Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is paying an official visit to Russia and Belarus from November 23-28 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, with a view to strengthening their traditional friendships and bilateral ties, especially the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.
Vietnamese people are happy to share in the achievements recently made by Russia and Belarus. Both countries have been paying attention to the development of relations with Vietnam, as the country is becoming an important strategic partner in the Asia-Pacific region and a prime partner in Southeast Asia.
Vietnam and Russia have seen a rapid development in bilateral relations in recent years, with their comprehensive strategic partnership growing in all fields.
Vietnamese people continually remember the support from the Russian and Belarus people for Vietnam’s revolution and national development. The fine relationship is marked by various high ranking delegations, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s State visit to Vietnam in November 2013, and Vietnam National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung’s visit to Russia in March 2013. Economic, trade and investment co-operation between Vietnam and Russia have been very active, with two-way trade reaching nearly US$ 4 billion in 2013, and exceeding US$ 1.8 billion during the first eight months of this year.
Russiais currently running 92 investment projects in Vietnam, with a combined capital of US$ 2.05 billion. It ranks 18th amongst the 101 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Vietnam is operating 17 projects worth US$ 2.5 billion in Russia, with a focus on oil and gas, as well as banking and trade. Oil and gas, and energy area traditional areas of cooperation, bringing large revenue for both Russia and Vietnam.
Vietnamand Belarus also enjoy a sound and time-honored friendship and co-operation, with political ties growing continuously. The visit to Vietnam by Belarus Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich in 2011 and the visit to Belarus by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung helped to raise political trust and foster bilateral relations. Belarus is currently more focused on Vietnam, and has encouraged Vietnamese enterprises to invest in Belarus. Bilateral trade has been developed, though has yet to meet its full potential. Two-way trade reached US$ 152 million in 2013, with Vietnamese imports totaling US$ 138.3 million.
Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan conducted seven rounds of negotiations on a free trade agreement, aiming to sign by the end of the year. The agreement is expected to raise bilateral trade turnover to US$ 7 billion by 2015 and US$ 10 billion by 2020.
The visit to Russia and Belarus by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will continue the diplomatic policy of independence, sovereignty, peace, cooperation and development, multilateralisation and diversification, actively integrate into the international arena, and raise the country’s profile by creating favorable conditions for national development and defense. The visit will be an important milestone in the promotion of Vietnam’s relationship with Russia and Belarus, promoting multifaceted cooperation in the new era. The visit is expected to create new momentum for economic and trade relations between Vietnam and the two countries.
We wish a successful visit by the General Secretary to Russia and Belarus, bringing the friendship and traditional cooperation between Vietnam and these two countries, especially the Vietnam – Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, to a new level, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the world.
NHAN DAN
Đăng ký: VietNam News
