V N gives priority to Russia in cooperation & investment
Ha Noi, Feb. 28 (VNA) -- Viet Nam will always give priority to Russia in cooperation and investment, says Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.
The Prime Minister was speaking while receiving in Ha Noi on Feb. 28 a member of Russian President Putin's delegation to Viet Nam, Deputy Prime Minister V. B. Khristenko.
Prime Minister Khai expressed the hope that the visit to Viet Nam by the Russian President and his entourage would expand cooperation between the two countries.
He expressed joy at the development of Viet Nam-Russia commercial and economic ties, but he said bilateral trade turnover had been low and met neither the potential nor desire of the two countries.
He affirmed the traditional and close relations between Viet Nam and Russia which had been tested by time. Many scientists and key Vietnamese officials were trained in the former Soviet Union.
The Prime Minister lauded Russia's scientific potential and expressed the wish that Russia would continue training Vietnamese experts in oil and gas, atomic energy and maritime expertise.
He said Viet Nam and Russia would discuss the reduction of prices for facilities and machines imported from Russia and payment for Russian experts in Viet Nam.
The Russian Deputy Prime Minister said that since the visit to Russia by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai in July last year, the two countries had reached new stages of development in trade, oil and gas exploitation, electric power, science and technology.
In 2000, Russia and Viet Nam had signed and implemented agreements on debt settlement, cooperation between localities, which had improved the business environment and boosted bilateral trade.
Russia-Viet Nam cooperation projects in oil industry, atomic energy use, debt payment for training would be further discussed during the visit, Khristenko said.--VNA
