He was accompanied by Minister-Chairman of the Office of Government Vu Duc Dam, Minister of Trade and Industry Vu Huy Hoang, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang, Minister of Information and Communication Nguyen Bac Son, Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan among others.

Through the upcoming trip, PM Dung hopes to unceasingly uphold the Viet Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, maintain the exchanges of high-ranking reciprocal visits and discuss issues of common concern.  

On March 1, 2001, Viet Nam and Russia signed a joint declaration announcing their strategic partnership, which was then in 2012 upgraded to comprehensive strategic partnership.

Political relations between the two countries have been continuously consolidated through regular exchange of high-level delegations, including the visits to Russia by Viet Nam’s Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh in October 2002 and July 2010, State President Nguyen Minh Triet in August 2008 and May 2010, PM Nguyen Tan Dung in September 2007 and December 2009, NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong in April 2009 and State President Truong Tan Sang in July 2012.

Both sides have deployed effectively cooperative mechanisms especially the Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic-Trade and Scientific-Technological Cooperation, an annual Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy-Defense-Security and periodical political consultations.

The economic ties have also developed dynamically in which two-way trade volume touched around US$2.45 billion in 2012 and US$734 million in the first three months of 2013. 

As of April 20, 2013, Russia ranked 18th among 101 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam with 93 projects worth US$2.07 billion. Meanwhile, Viet Nam invested in 16 projects worth over US$1.7 billion in Russia.

The two sides also gained positive achievements in energy cooperation.

Over 176,000 Russian visitors arrived in Viet Nam in 2012. 

For Belarus, PM Dung wants to develop and consolidate the traditional ties with the visiting country and strengthen political ties as it is a foundation to deepen the two countries’ multifaceted ties.

Economic and commercial linkages between the two countries have developed stably, making a US$190 million trade volume in 2012.

The two sides are stepping up coordination in such areas as heavy industry, agriculture and processing industries.

Both sides passed the Economic Cooperation Program for the 2013-2015 period to bring  two-way trade volume to US$1 billion in coming years.

Belarus joined the first round of negotiation for FTA between Viet Nam and the Customs Union this March. /.

By Hai Minh