The upcoming state visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Vietnam on June 19-20 demonstrates the Eurasian nation’s keen interest in strengthening the bilateral relations, Dr. Ivan Nikolaievich Timofeev, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), has said.

Vietnam has become a natural partner of Russia in its look-east policy for various reasons, said Ivan Timofeev, Director of Programmes at the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency on October 9.

The Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (VN-EAEU FTA) is of great importance to Russia since it is a leading economy in the EAEU, said a Russian expert.