Viet Nam and Russia have agreed to boost cooperation
Ha Noi, Dec. 7 (VNA) -- Viet Nam and Russia have agreed to boost cooperation in energy, coal mining, the chemical industry, steel manufacture, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, farm produce and food processing, science and technology, education and training.
The agreement was reached at the 7th session of the Viet Nam-Russia Inter-governmental Commission for Economic, Commercial, Scienctific and Technological Cooperation in Moscow on Dec. 5 and 6.
The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam, and the Russian delegation by Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko.
The delegations agreed to focus their cooperation on oil and gas exploration, exploitation and processing. They devised plans to raise the efficiency of the Viet Nam-Russia oil and gas joint venture, Vietsovpetro, boost cooperation in gas production and quicken the construction of the Dzung Quat oil refinery in central Viet Nam.
They also reached agreement on the form of payment and debt re-payment in order to boost exports of goods and services from Viet Nam to Russia and increase Russia's investment in Viet Nam.
Measures to raise the efficiency of the commission's sections were discussed at the session.
The two-day session reviewed the implementation of the 6th session's resolution and agreements reached by the two sections' presidents in Ha Noi in July and agreements reached during the Vietnamese Prime Minister's visit to Russia last September.
The delegations expressed joy at the development of economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries and their mutual efforts to increase two-way trade and strengthen cooperation between localities of the two countries.
However, those relations have not yet matched the potential of the two countries.
Deputy Prime Minister Cam reaffirmed that Viet Nam had always attached importance to boosting its traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Russia which had always occupied a priority position in Viet Nam's foreign policy.
Deputy Prime Minister Khristenko expressed his wish to further enhance Russia-Viet Nam multifaceted cooperation and said that Russia had always considered Viet Nam a strategic partner in Southeast Asia.
The Deputy Prime Ministers signed the minutes of the session, affirming it would bring relations between the two countries to a new height.
The commission decided to hold its 8th session in Ha Noi next year.--VNA
