PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng in the interview – Photo: VNGOP
In his answer to questions from Russian news agencies Ria Novosti and Itar-Tass about the current Việt Nam-Russia cooperation, the PM confirmed that the traditional bilateral friendship and strategic partnership are developing well, with significant achievements in various fields.
Politically, the relations between the two countries have been strengthened in a spirit of mutual trust and understanding through regular high-ranking visits as well as those at ministerial and local levels. The legal framework for the bilateral ties has been shaped based on the Agreement on basic principles of the Việt Nam-Russia friendship signed on June 16, 1994 and the Joint Statement on the Việt Nam-Russia strategic partnership signed on March 01, 2001.
In terms of economic and trade ties, the two-way trade turnovers grow rapidly in recent years at 15% per year on average, reaching over US$ 1 billion in 2005. Oil and energy are traditional and effective fields of cooperation, generating great incomes for the state budgets of the two countries.
Scientific-technical, educational-training, cultural, tourist and local cooperation has been maintained and deepened.
However, the PM stressed that bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation ties still remain incommensurate with the two countries’ potentialities, so the two sides should overcome it and realize the signed agreements effectively.
He suggested that the two Governments should formulate preferential tax policies towards their commodities and services, including the lifting of trade barriers, improvement of the mechanism of payment, encouragement of investments in large-scale projects on fuel, energy, mining, metallurgy, mechanics, banking, telecommunication and production of consumer goods.
During the PM‘s Russian tour, leaders of the two countries are expected to exchange their opinions on how to consolidate and diversify bilateral ties.
PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng was quoted as saying that they will discuss solutions to meet the schedule for an effective implementation of the tasks of priority to boost the strategic partnership as agreed upon by the two sides during President Putin’s visit to Việt Nam in late 2006.
The leaders will also discuss measures to increase two-way trade turnovers.
At the end of his interview, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng said in his upcoming visit, the message he wished to convey to the Russian leaders and people that the Vietnamese Party, State and people always attach great importance to developing the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the Russian Federation, which Việt Nam considers as both its first strategic partner and reliable and loyal friend. Việt Nam pledges to support Russia in improving the latter’s role on international arena as well as lauds Russia’s increased presence in Southeast Asia as an importance factor to ensure the region’s peace, security and cooperation.
By Xuân Hồng
