PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and his entourage lay a wreath at the Matyrs' Memorial -Photo: VNGOP	PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng pays tribute to V. I. Lenin - Photo: VNGOP

In an atmosphere of friendship and openness PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and his Russian counterpart M. E. Fradkov briefed each other the situations of their respective countries in recent time. They also exchanged their opinions on how to consolidate traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Việt Nam and the Russian Federation, as well as the international and regional issues of common concern.

The two PMs reviewed comprehensively the cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries over the past years and discussed solutions to effectively realize the List of Priority Tasks agreed by the two sides during President V.V. Putin's visit to Việt Nam in November 2006 to boost the strategic partnership at a new height, focusing on such projects as gas and oil, energy, mining, trade, industry-agriculture, science-technology, culture, and education. Both PMs maintained that the two countries should promote bilateral economic, trade and investment ties, so that the two-way trade turnovers would reach US$ 2 billion by 2010. They were quite satisfied with the two countries its mutual support and collaboration on regional and international forums. Việt Nam confirmed its support to Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO); and on their part the Russian Federation will support Việt Nam's election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations' Security Council in the 2008-2009 term.

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of cooperative agreements between the two countries, including an Additional Protocol to the Inter-Governmental Agreement on Vietsopetro signed in 1991, an agreement between PetroVietnam and Zarubeznheft on founding joint-ventures to explore and exploit gas and oil in Russia and the third countries, and a cooperation program between the Vietnamese and Russian Ministries of Foreign Affairs in the period of 2007-2008.

Later, at a press conference, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and his Russian counterpart re-confirmed their determination to develop the strategic comprehensive cooperation between the two countries to a new level. The two countries will boost their multifaceted cooperation, prioritizing the fields of their potentialities.

In the evening of September 11, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng was reported to receive the Vice President of the Russian Federation Council, Vice Speaker of the State Duma, and leaders of the Russia-Việt Nam Friendship Association. At 10 PM (Vietnamese time), PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng had a meeting with President V.V.Putin.

By Xuân Hồng