President Triet welcomed the Russia President’s official visit to Vietnam and participation in the ASEAN-Russia Summit, and stressed that the visit should boost the traditional strategic relationship between the two countries.

He confirmed that Vietnam values the chance to expand ties with Russia. The two peoples have a special closeness and the Vietnamese people treasure the great support of the former Soviet Union and Russia during their struggle for national independence and construction.

The Russian President expressed his favorable impression of Vietnam and confirmed that Russia considers Vietnam a priority country in Southeast Asia , saying that since his first visit to the country nine years ago, Vietnam has developed rapidly and gained remarkable achievements in industrialisation and modernisation, national defense, and security and has solved many social and economic issues.

Russia is willing to work with Vietnam on these issues, because they are very close. Both countries reached important agreements during the official visit by President Triet in October, 2010, said Mr Medvedev.

The two leaders discussed and agreed on ideas to strengthen cooperation in politics, economics, industry, oil, energy, agriculture, culture, labour and national defense.

The two presidents also visited representatives of both countries’ businesses including the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV).

After the meeting, they witnessed the signing of 14 documents related to the construction of a nuclear power plant in Vietnam; cooperation in energy, the army, intellectual property rights; financial support for customs, laws and justice, post and telecommunications, information technologies, public relations and the control of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Earlier that morning, the Russian President paid tribute at the monument for martyr soldiers and visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

At the meeting with the Australian Prime Minister during her participation at the East Asia Summit and related summits, Mr Triet praised her contribution to the success of the Summit and expressed his pleasure at the positive developments in cooperation between Vietnam and Australia.

He hailed Australia’s important role in the Asia-Pacific region and thanked the Australian people for their great help during Vietnam’s course of national construction and development, especially the official development assistance (ODA) for important projects such as the My Thuan and Cao Lanh bridges.

The State President urged both countries to work together in politics, economics, trade, national defense, culture, education and labour issues as well as terrorism and preventing drugs trafficking.

The Australian Prime Minister confirmed desire for cooperation and said the signing of the Vietnam-Australia Action Programme will be the premise for both countries to boost their ties. She urged Vietnam to continue giving preferential treatment to Australian investors working in the country.