A seminar was held in Hanoi on March 4 by the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association to celebrate ten years of signing a joint statement of strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia during Russian President Putin’s visit to Vietnam at that time.

In his speech, Vietnamese ambassador to Russia, Bui Dinh Dinh highlighted the significance of the joint statement and reviewed the landmark achievements of friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries since the strategic partnership was established.

Mr Dinh thanked Russian leaders and people for their support for Vietnam during the past struggle for national liberation and unification and in its process of national construction and development.

He also spoke highly of the association’s initiative to organise the seminar as well as its activities to strengthen the Vietnam-Russia friendship.

Participants described the joint statement as a most important document which provides the legal foundation for developing bilateral relation in the 21^st century.

Over the past years, there have been major changes in bilateral cooperation in economics, trade, science and technology, education and training and national defense and security. Meanwhile, political relations have developed based on strong mutual trust.

It is worth noting that bilateral cooperation in oil and gas exploitation and energy have also been carried out effectively.

In their reports, Russian delegates praised the tremendous achievements of the Vietnamese people in recent times and congratulated the success of the country’s 11^th National Party Congress, hoping for a bright future for Russia-Vietnam relations.