The Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association on Mar. 4 held a workshop inMoscow to mark the 10 th anniversary of the signing Joint Declarationon the strategic partnership between the two countries (Mar. 1).

The association’s President Vladimir Buiyanov and representatives fromthe Foreign Ministry, the Economic Development Ministry, the Industryand Trade Ministry, the Moscow External Economy Department, the Gazprombank and the Zarubezhneft oil and gas group attended the event.

VietnameseAmbassador Bui Dinh Dinh and representatives from the Vietnam-RussiaBank and several companies owned by overseas Vietnamese were alsopresent.

Reports delivered at the workshop highlighted theimportant significance of the signing of the Joint Declaration on thestrategic partnership between the two countries, describing it as themost important document, making a legal foundation for the developmentof relations between Russia and Vietnam in the 21 st century.

Theyaffirmed that over the past 10 years, the Russia-Vietnam ties steppedinto a new period with changes in quality and development both in widthand depth with important achievements.

Political relationsdeveloped well and cooperation in trade and economy, science andtechnology, education and training and national security gained manyachievements.

Two-way trade turnover increased from 300-400million USD per year in mid-1990s to 1.9 billion USD in 2010.Especially, cooperation in oil and gas and energy has seen progress.

Thereports also praised great achievements the Vietnamese people obtainedover the past years as well as Vietnam ’s success in organising the11 th National Party Congress.

While affirming the greatsignificance of the joint declaration and the development of thetraditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the twocountries, Ambassador Dinh expressed thanks for Russian leaders andpeople for their support to Vietnam in the past struggle for nationalliberation and the current national construction and development./.