Russian President Vladimir Putin began a State-level visit to Vietnam on November 12 at the invitation of State President Truong Tan Sang.

This is Putin’s third visit to Vietnam, and Vietnam is the second country in the Asia-Pacific region Putin makes a visit to after China this year

His visit aims to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and Vietnam, promote mutual understanding and trust between the two countries’ top leaders, and increase bilateral cooperation in all areas.

Vietnam and Russia have maintained regular high-level visits, including those to Russia by State President Truong Tan Sang (in July and September 2012), Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (in May 2013) and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung (in March 2013).

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visited Vietnam in November 2012.

Economic ties have flourished, with two-way trade reaching US$3.7 billion last year and US$1.88 billion in the first eight months of 2013.

Both countries have effectively maintained strategic dialogues on diplomacy-national defence-security annually, as well as periodical political consultations between their Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

They have cooperated closely and supported each other at regional and international forums.

They have lifted their science-technology and education-training ties to a strategic level.

Russia is one of Vietnam’s top ten tourism markets. Last year Vietnam received 176,000 Russian arrivals, and the figure amounted to more than 200,000 in the first nine months of 2013.

(VOV)