Energy takes center stage in Vietnam-Russia ties
By Phuong Thao - The Saigon Times Daily
HCMC – Energy cooperation will be the highlight in the bilateral relations between Vietnam and Russia, said Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh during meetings with top leaders of Russia during an official visit.
Manh, currently in Russia, and the host country’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov on Saturday discussed ways for strengthening comprehensive bilateral ties between the two nations.
They two sides highly appreciated agreements signed between the two governments in late 2009, particularly those on oil and gas, energy and military technology sectors. They agreed to enhance the coordination role of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-governmental Committee on Economic, Commercial, Scientific and Technological Cooperation as well as accelerate the implementation of the signed pacts.
The two leaders also decided to speed up negotiations to sign inter-governmental agreements on the construction of Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant and the provision of credits for the project and on energy development, the Vietnam News Agency reports.
It is not made clear which nuclear power projects in Vietnam Russia will join in, as Vietnam’s government has lately approved a master plan on developing 13 nuclear power plants with combined output of 16,000MW between now and 2030. Vietnam targets to start commissioning the first nuclear power plant in 2020.
During the meeting, Zhukov appraised Vietnam’s renewal process as well as its positive role in dealing with regional and international issues. He also affirmed Russia’s consistent policy to treasure and to promote the traditional relations and comprehensive partnership with Vietnam.
Vietnam and Russia also promised to strengthen cooperation at regional and international forums such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the United Nations, especially within the ASEAN-Russia framework when Vietnam holds the ASEAN chairmanship in 2010.
Earlier, Manh and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in an official talk also agreed to maintain frequent meetings of high-ranking leaders, strengthen political dialogues, and boost cooperative ties in different fields.
The two leaders pledged to expand cooperation in traditional fields, including oil and gas exploration, exploitation and processing, energy, machine manufacturing, mining, banking and telecommunications. Russia said it would be willing to help Vietnam in training, especially for high-tech sectors in the future.
They also stressed the importance of bilateral trade relations of the two countries and said to instruct business sectors and administrative bodies to strengthen trade and investment promotion to raise two-way trade value to US$9-10 billion in the years to come.
The two sides also agreed to boost science and technology cooperation, especially for nanotechnology, information technology, biotechnology, new materials, non-traditional energies, and automation.
The Party chief on Sunday also witnessed the signing of three contracts between PetroVietnam and its long-established Russian partner Zarubezhneft.
Under the deals, the two sides would bolster operation of their joint venture Vietsovpetro, start operation of the new oilfield Nhenhetsky so as to have the first oil product in this quarter, and continue oil exploration and exploitation in Vietnam and a third country.