(VOVworld) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said Vietnam wants to deepen its relations with Russia at a reception for outgoing Russian ambassador to Vietnam Andrei Kovtun in Hanoi on Wednesday. He praised the Russian ambassador’s contributions to boosting the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries during his term in Vietnam. He said he hopes that the ambassador, in whatever position, will continue to contribute to Vietnam-Russia relations.

Ambassador Kovtun said that Russia treasures its comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam in all fields. He added that increased visit exchanges, the early completion of negotiations for a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, and successful implementation of strategic cooperative agreements in oil and gas and nuclear power will open new prospects for sustainable cooperation in all areas.