Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev Meets Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung

• published: 14 May 2013
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Russia: Moscow-Hanoi talks show eastern promise Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev held bilateral talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung in Moscow on Tuesday. They devoted particular attention to negotiations concerning a free trade agreement between Vietnam and Customs Union members Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, as well as the implementation of joint energy and industrial projects. A free-trade agreement would see the establishment of a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) giving Vietnam access to Customs Union markets, estimated to increase Vietnamese exports into Russia, Kazakhastan and Belarus four-fold by 2020. On energy, Medvedev pointed to improving bilateral cooperation over nuclear and hydrocarbon development. He said: "The energy sector remains the essential part of our partnership, and we have already signed two documents. We are pleased to say that our cooperation in this area is making great strides, not only in terms of the previously mentioned hydrocarbons, but in terms of nuclear power development as well." He added: "We have top-of-the-range nuclear technologies and I hope that we can develop fruitful cooperation that will allow us not only to build a nuclear station but also develop all the relevant infrastructure." Russia's Rosatom Nuclear Energy State Corporation has been charged with overseeing construction of a nuclear power plant in southern Vietnam, at a cost of around US$70 (€54) billion. The contract has been given to Russian engineering firm Atomstoryexport. The Vietnamese prime minister is on a four-day trip to Russia that ends on May 15. He will then depart to neighbouring Belarus for an official visit lasting until May 17.