Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan and his Russian counterpart OlgaGolodets have agreed on the need to take robust measures to boostbilateral economic cooperation effectively.

The twoDeputy PMs made the consensus at their meeting in Moscow, Russia, onSeptember 17, which includes the early signing of a free trade agreementbetween Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan andBelarus, and the speeding-up of cooperation in the field of energy.

They were unanimous in measures to further their strategic cooperationin science – technology and education – training and agreed toaccelerate the signing of a framework agreement on this area.

Deputy PM Nhan and his Russian host concurred in increasing Russianscholarships for Vietnam, stepping up the establishment of a Vietnam –Russia Technology University, building a nuclear science and technologycentre in Vietnam, and promoting the teaching of Russian language andliterature in Vietnamese educational institutions.

They affirmed to create all possible conditions for the two countries’ministries, sectors, academies and research institutes to establish andexpand cooperation.

The two sides hailed thecontribution of the Vietnamese community in Russia and the Russiancommunity in Vietnam to both countries’ traditional relations andcooperation while pledging favourable conditions for their living,studying and working in line with each country’s laws.

Earlier on the same day, Deputy PM Nhan met with First Vice Chairman of the Russian State Duma Ivan Melnikov.

He said that besides traditional fields, Vietnam and Russia canbroaden their cooperation in economics, banking, agriculture, transport,energy, sea-based economy and others.

Particularly,the construction of joint universities and research centres are openingup good prospects, bringing education – training into a field of theirstrategic cooperation.

The Vietnamese guest also askedthe First Vice Chairman of the Russian State Duma in his capacity tosupport the cooperative ties between the two legislative bodies.

For his part, Melnikov reiterated that the Russia parliament will backVietnam’s proposals to further cooperation in education – training, theestablishment of joint research and education – training institutes,while considering an agreement on the travel of individuals as well asmilitary technical cooperation.

He also asked the twolegislative bodies to increase exchanges, and enhance cooperationbetween localities and young generations, as well as that in tourism andculture.-VNA