Before leaving Moscow, Mr Triet met with the Speaker of the Russian Federation Council, Sergei Mironov, and Moscow Mayor Iuri Luzhkov.

Mr Triet praised the fine cooperation between the Vietnam National Assembly and the Russian Federation Council (Upper House) in recent times. He said the two bodies have regularly exchanged delegations to share experience in legislation, supervision and organisational structure while cooperating closely at regional and international parliamentarians’ forums. 

For his part, Speaker Mironov voiced the Russian legislative body’s support for the agreements reached during Mr Triet’s visit and affirmed the body’s determination to work closely with the Vietnam National Assembly to heighten the strategic partnership between the two countries.

While meeting with Moscow Mayor Luzkhov, President Triet praised the decision made by Hanoi and Moscow’s municipal authorities to allocate land for the construction of trade centres and cultural houses in their respective cities.

He said these projects will help promote mutual understanding and act as a bridge to economic, trade, investment, cultural and tourism cooperation between the two countries’ people and business communities.

He expressed his hope that Hanoi and Moscow will take the lead in cooperation among various localities between Vietnam and Russia.

The same day, Mr Triet called at Gazprom group, attended the inauguration of the Vietnam-Russia Joint Venture Bank and witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Vietnam Investment and Development Bank and the Russia Bank for Foreign Trade.

Five Vietnamese citizens honoured

The Russian State has decided to present its Friendship Order to five Vietnamese citizens in recognition of their significant contributions to scientific and technological cooperation between Vietnam and Russia.

The five Vietnamese citizens are Bui Manh Hai, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Nguyen Ngoc Duoc, Head of the Science, Technology and Environment Agency under the Ministry of Defence, Pham Gia Khanh, Director of the Medical Military Institute under the Ministry of Defence, Pham Khoi Nguyen, Minister of Science and Technology, and Tran Quoc Toan, Vice Chairman of the Government Office.