(VOVworld) – The visit to Vietnam by Russian President Vladimir Putin will bring bilateral ties to a new level. President Truong Tan Sang made this statement in an interview about the Vietnam-Russia relationship granted to Russia’s Itar-tass news agency and Kommersant newspaper prior to Putin’s visit which begins Tuesday.

Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and Russian President Vladimir meet in Sochi, July, 2013. (Photo: VNA)

Sang stressed traditional friendship and mutual support as the solid foundation of the two countries’ 60-year relationship. Vietnam and Russia became strategic partners in 2001 and comprehensive strategic partners in 2012, creating a basis for broader cooperation and increased political trust.

Sang said both sides have witnessed flourishing economic ties. Two-way turnover has increased steadily, reaching 2.45 billion USD in 2012 and 2.4 billion USD in the first 9 months of this year. The two sides are negotiating a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Customs Alliance which includes Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. This agreement is expected to boost bilateral trade to 7 billion USD by 2015.

President Sang said the Vietnamese government and people consider President Putin’s visit a milestone in bilateral ties. During the visit, the leaders will review bilateral cooperation in all areas, particularly the implementation of strategic projects in investment, oil and gas, and nuclear power, and discuss future plans. They will also touch upon regional and global issues of mutual concern, focusing on Vietnam-Russia cooperation within the United Nations, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and ASEAN-based mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit, and the Asia-Europe Meeting.