Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai and Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov discussed ways to further promote future economic and trade links between Viet Nam and Russia during their talks in Ha Noi yesterday.

The two sides stressed the need to accelerate the ratification of the free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the Eurasia Economic Union, aiming to step up economic and trade links between Viet Nam and the union's members in general and Russia in particular. — VNA/VNS Photo An Dang

Hai and Shuvalov, the co-chairmen of the Viet Nam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee for Economic-Commercial and Scientific-Technological Co-operation, reviewed the implementation of the minutes of the committee's 17th meeting in Vliadivostok in September last year.

They assessed that bilateral co-operation in trade and investment has developed, with key projects being implemented effectively.

The two sides stressed the need to accelerate the ratification of the free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the Eurasia Economic Union, aiming to step up economic and trade links between Viet Nam and the union's members in general and Russia in particular.

Regarding energy co-operation, the two sides focused on the construction of the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant and other projects in oil and gas and electricity.

The two Deputy PMs expressed their pleasure with effective operations of Viet Nam-Russia oil and gas joint ventures, saying that the two sides continue to expand new projects in Viet Nam's continental shelf, Russian territory and third-party countries. They also agreed on future measures to promote collaboration in other fields such as mining, finance-banking, information and communications, science-technology, and education-training.

The two Deputy PMs signed the minutes of the talks, which affirmed commitment to fostering bilateral co-operation in the coming time.