Addressing the event in Da Nang, Russian Consul General Yury Matery applauded the fine development of the time-honoured relationship between Russia and Vietnam. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese people have worked and studied in Russia, he said.

The Russian diplomat said his country has helped Vietnam implement 300 construction projects since their historic victory in 1975.

He noted that the Vietnam-Russia Oil and Gas Joint Venture (Vietsovpetro) has become a symbol of effective cooperation between the two countries. In 2009, trade turnover between Vietnam and Russia reached almost US$1.8 billion.