The visit is taking place at a time when the strategic and comprehensive cooperation partnership between the two countries has fared well in all areas.

Both Vietnam and Russia have regularly maintained the exchange of visits, laying a firm foundation for the development of bilateral ties.

Two-way trade has increased significantly, from US$400 million in the 1990s to US$1.6 billion in 2008.

Vietnam exports seafood, garment, rubber and footwear to Russia and imports coal, steel, fertilizer and petroleum from the latter.

Russia now has 55 investment projects in Vietnam valued at US$302.9 million, ranking 23^rd among 81 foreign investors in the country.