(VOVworld) – During his official visit to Russia, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Monday visited the Kalinigrad area, where the first state-of-the art Kilo 636 submarine named Hanoi is being tested. Mr. Dung said the Party, State and people of Vietnam want the Vietnamese naval force to quickly obtain technological know-how to utilize the submarine when it is eventually transferred to Vietnam. The Prime Minister urged the Vietnam People’s Army and the Naval Force in particular to build a more revolutionary, professional and modern force which will be able to safeguard national sovereignty. He said the Party and State care for the military personnel’s material and spiritual lives so as they can successfully fulfill their tasks.

He told the media in Kalinigrad that Russia’s transfer of the submarine to Vietnam is not only a commercial contract, but also symbolic of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The Hanoi Kilo 636 submarine was manufactured in the Admiralty Verfi factory in St. Petersburg and is being tested at sea near the port of Svetlyi in Kalinigrad. It has conducted 23 diving batches so far.