On the morning of July 30, Sang received Chairman of the Communist Party of Russia (CPR) Gennady Zyuganov.

He affirmed that during the renewal process and international integration, Viet Nam always attaches importance to the consolidation and development of the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with traditional countries, communist and worker parties worldwide with priority to its traditional friendship with the CPR.

The President used the occasion to congratulate the CPR for its development which reflects the Russian people’s increasing confidence.

He spoke highly of the traditional friendly relations, mutual understanding and trust between the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the CPR, noting that the regular meetings and exchange of information between the two Parties’ leaders have made important contributions to Party building work in each country, coordination in stance and consolidation of the two Parties’ relations.

For his part, CPR Chairman Zyuganov said that his Party is conducting renovation in various fields to attract Russian voters’ attention and support.

He voiced his support to Russian leaders’ existing policy to unceasingly develop the nation’s strategic partnership with Viet Nam. 

He said he hopes through the exchange of delegations at all levels and experiences in popularisation and education, Party building, mobilisation and youth work, the two Parties’ relations will develop effectively in-depth for the mutual interests of both peoples, thus contributing to the further development of the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Russia.

The same day, President Sang attended the Viet Nam-Russia Business Forum in which he said the economic and trade relation is one of the most important segments in the two countries’ comprehensive cooperation.

Two-way trade is expected to hit 3 billion USD in 2012, he said, adding that Russia is implementing a number of major projects in Viet Nam, especially in the sectors of oil and gas, mining, energy and tourism, especially the project to build the first ever nuclear power plant in the country - a symbol of the Viet Nam-Russia relations in the 21 st century.

The President underscored the necessity to work out breakthrough measures, including the early signing of the Free Trade Agreement between Viet Nam and the customs alliance of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Sang emphasised that Viet Nam’s economy has attained a relatively high and stable growth rate for many consecutive years and now is making active development.

The nation is exerting its best effort to reform its public sector towards institutional reform and facilitate the development of the private economic sector and the public-private economic cooperation, finalise the legal system and environment, market economic regulations, and infrastructure to facilitate foreign investors in the country.

During the new period of development, the cooperative relationship with Russia is of special importance and is prioritised and given with high interest, he said.

Viet Nam attaches importance and facilitates Russian investors and businesses’ cooperation with Viet Nam in all economic fields, particularly in traditional fields such as trade, oil and gas, energy, mining, science-technology, education-training, tourism and labour, said Sang.

Later, Sang had a meeting with Acting Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia Alexander Torshin who described the President’s official visit to Russia as an important political event in the two countries’ political life, creating a strong impetus for further elevating the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia.

He affirmed that the Federation Council of Russia together with other Russian authorities will further relationship with Viet Nam, especially in law making and supervision of the implementation of signed agreements.

The two sides discussed and reached a consensus on directions to boost cooperation between the two legislative bodies, including the intensification of the delegation exchange to improve mutual understandings, share experience on legislation, supervise the agreements between the two countries as well as ensure the enforcement of international treaties that both participate in.

They also agreed to create favourable conditions to reinforce cooperation between localities of the two countries to build a firm social base for the bilateral relations as well as improve the effectiveness of cooperation between the two countries in general and between localities in particular.

The two leaders expressed hopes that the coming visit to Viet Nam of a high-ranking delegation led by Torshin will make an important contribution to consolidating the relations between the two legislative bodies and strengthening the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

During his visit, President Sang met with Academician Osipov, President of the Russia Academy of Sciences (RAS), and witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology and the RAS for the 2012-2017 period.

He also visited Gazprom Gas Company, the largest of its kind in Russia and also a strategic partner of PetroVietnam./.