The visit reaffirms Vietnam and Russia’s special traditional relationship, which has steadily developed during the past 60 years. It also reiterates Vietnam’s consistent policy of attaching importance to strengthening relation with Russia.

The two countries have built on a firm foundation for cooperation. The valuable support of the Russian Party, State and people has greatly contributed to Vietnam’s success in its past struggle for national liberation and unification, as well as its current cause of national construction and defence.

Russia has taken the mantle of the former Soviet Union in developing international relations, including the relationship with Vietnam. The two sides signed an agreement on basic principles for Vietnam-Russia relations in 1994, opening a new phase in the development of bilateral ties.

Bilateral relations in the 21^st century have been formalised by the signing of a joint statement on a comprehensive strategic partnership during Russian President V. Putin’s visit to Vietnam in 2001.

During his talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Moscow in September 2009, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that 2009 witnessed the strong development of Vietnam-Russia ties. Despite the negative impact of the global economic crisis, two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Russia reached more than US$1.7 billion last year. Both sides have agreed to boost trade and investment promotion and complete negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement to help them achieve a two-way trade turnover of US$10 billion in the future.

Currently, Russian companies are taking part in 60 projects in Vietnam, with a total investment of nearly US$320 million, ranking 23 out of 81 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Vietnam is also carrying out 11 projects in Russia, worth US$34 million in total.

Vietnam and Russia have promoted their cooperation in traditional fields such as energy, oil and gas, and mining, as well as military technology, defence and security. The two countries are keen on exchanging intelligence and combating terrorism and drug trafficking.

Russian Gazprom Corporation and Join Stock Company Zarubezhneft have had effective cooperation with the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group by opening new oil and gas joint ventures.

There have also been many activities to strengthen the cooperation in culture and tourism. The number of Russian visitors to Vietnam has increased by 30 percent since 2006, reaching 40,000 per year.

In education and training, Russia has been helping Vietnam train human resources. It provides Vietnamese students with about 300 scholarships per year for graduate and post-graduate training in the country.

During Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan’s official visit to Russia in March, both sides agreed to establish a Vietnam-Russia Technology University which is now under construction.

At multilateral forums like the United Nations, APEC, ASEAN, Vietnam and Russia share common views on many international issues and always support each other.

As ASEAN chairman in 2010, Vietnam is working closely with Russia for the success of the high-ranking ASEAN-Russian conference to be held in Hanoi at the end of 2010. Russian President Medvedev is scheduled to visit Vietnam and attend the conference.

The general secretary’s official visit is expected to help promote the already friendly relations between Vietnam and Russia.