Hanoi (VNA) – During a visit toRussia from September 5 to 8, General Secretary of the Communist Party ofVietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vladimir Putin andother Russian leaders will discuss measures to promote the countries’relations.

The Party leader revealed his plans for the tripduring an interview with Russian news agency TASS ahead of the visit.

He said the visit will be made amidst developingbilateral relations and on the threshold of the 25th anniversary of the signingof a treaty on basic principles for Vietnam-Russia friendship in 2019 and 70years of diplomatic ties in 2020.

It aims to intensify the countries’ comprehensivestrategic partnership, connectivity and cooperation in all spheres, he noted,voicing his belief that the visit will create new momentum for this partnershipand improve bilateral cooperation for the sake of the two peoples and forpeace, stability and development in Asia-Pacific.

Reviewing the countries’ ties, General SecretaryTrong affirmed that Russia is an important traditional partner of Vietnam.Their people have supported each other over the past seven decades. TheVietnamese people never forget the assistance, both materially and spiritually,that people of the former Soviet Union and Russia have given during the fightfor national independence in the past and development efforts at present.

Russia is also one of the countries with thebiggest numbers of Vietnamese people. Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian nation hasbecome an attractive destination for Russian tourists. These are crucialfactors helping enhance the friendship and mutual understanding between the twopeoples, he added.

The leader told TASS that Vietnam respects andprioritises reinforcing the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia.Since this partnership was formed in 2012, political relations have beenstrengthened. The two sides have maintained exchange mechanisms while economic-trade,investment and security-defence ties have been solidified.

The partnership between Vietnam and Russia isdeveloping in a substantive and sustainable fashion, he said.

However, he also pointed out that bilateraleconomic-trade connections remain modest. Since the Vietnam-Eurasian EconomicUnion Free Trade Agreement took effect in October 2016, the two countries’trade has grown by some 30 percent over the past two years to 3.5 billion USDin 2017, which is still very low and not on par with their sound politicalties, potential and expectations.

“We want this field to develop more strongly andsoon become a true pillar of the two countries’ relations in the time ahead,”General Secretary Trong noted.

Regarding energy cooperation, he said there remainsmuch room for them to boost ties in this area, adding that Vietnam alwayswelcomes and creates the best conditions for Russian firms to modernise thepower plants built with the help of the Soviet Union and take part in newenergy projects.

Meanwhile, collaboration in the oil and gasindustry has increased and is a strategic and long-term cooperation field interms of both politics and economy.

The leader said an important direction of energyties is using atomic energy for peaceful purposes. The countries agreed tobuild a centre for nuclear science and technology in Vietnam. It is a criticalproject for both sides, aiming to develop nuclear science and technology, trainhigh-quality staff and step up the application of atomic energy in economic, social,scientific and technological areas.

In the interview, the Party chief also saidbilateral cooperation in defence-security and military techniques has expanded,showing the countries’ mutual trust.

He noted: “I highly value the very effective anddynamic cooperation between the two countries, especially in such cooperationfields as personnel training, United Nations peacekeeping, navy, militarymedicine, military technique, defence industry… In the coming time, cooperationin defence-security between the two countries will continue playing animportant role in the overall comprehensive strategic partnership.” –VNA