President Triet was speaking at a reception for Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Lytvyn Volodymyr in Hanoi on December 7. He applauded the Speaker’s visit, saying that it was a milestone in the development of the two countries’ cooperation.

He said Vietnam always creates favourable conditions for Ukrainian groups to seek investment and business cooperation opportunities in the country.

The State leader thanked the Ukrainian people for wholeheartedly supporting Vietnam in the past struggle for national independence and the current process of national development.

Speaker Lytvyn Volodymyr said Ukraine also hopes to develop multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam.

He said the meeting between Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and State President Nguyen Minh Triet in New York in September 2010 was a premise for bringing bilateral ties to a new height.

The top legislator expressed his belief in the bright future of Vietnam with a promising young generation which is becoming an attractive destination for young Ukrainians.

**On the same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had a working session with the Speaker in which he suggested measures to step up bilateral cooperation, especially in politics and foreign affairs, as well as coordination at multilateral and international forums.

The government leader emphasized that Vietnam’s consistent policy is to further strengthen its cooperative relations with Ukraine in all spheres.

PM Dung said the Vietnam-Ukraine inter-governmental committee needs to work together closely to boost cooperative ties in trade, investment, the economy, culture, tourism, national defence and military techniques.

He also suggested setting up a business association to promote trade ties and opening a direct air route between the two countries.

The PM spoke highly of the outcomes of the earlier talks between Volodymyr and his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Phu Trong, and applauded the cooperation between the two parliaments.

On the occasion, Vietnam National University Hanoi granted an Honourary Doctorate degree to the Ukrainian Parliament Speaker.