Vietnam, Russia issue joint statement on friendship, strategic partnership.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

Text of report in English by Vietnamese news agency VNA website

Hanoi: The landmark visit to Vietnam by Russian President Vladimir Putin has strengthened the traditional friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries, said a joint statement issued on 20 November. The joint statement runs in full as follows:

The two sides agreed to boost the comprehensive cooperation based on the strength and potential of each country, focusing on economics and trade on the principle of equality and mutual benefit. Efforts will be made to improve the quality and efficiency of bilateral cooperation in the interest of the people of both countries. The two sides agreed to boost the coordinative role of the Viet Nam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Trade and Scientific and Technical Cooperation in an …