President: We see huge potential in our relations with Vietnam

Ukraine and Vietnam have significant potential for developing trade and economic relations and cooperation in such areas as engineering, nuclear power, agriculture, military industry, education, science and technology as well as in cultural and humanitarian area, President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych said at a joint press conference on Friday with President of Vietnam Nguyen Minh Triet.

He said realization of this potential will bring mutual economic benefit to Ukraine and Vietnam. The President stressed that he has come to Vietnam with confidence that our countries will open a new chapter in their relations and elevate them to a qualitatively new level. 

Viktor Yanukovych also said he has invited the President, the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam to visit Ukraine in 2011. According to him, these visits would boost the development of business and friendly relations between our countries and nations. 

"I believe Ukraine will host the XII Session of the Intergovernmental Commission in the autumn of 2011, to work through a broad range of issues that will be subject of our joint action plan," he said. Viktor Yanukovych expressed hopes that the meeting will be chaired by the Prime Ministers of Ukraine and Vietnam. 

The President has also informed that Ukraine and Vietnam will hold reciprocal Culture Days, which will also promote the development and strengthening of humanitarian ties between our nations. 

He wished the friendly people of Vietnam well-being and prosperity. 

For his part, the President of Vietnam said that during today’s negotiations the parties have discussed a broad range of issues of bilateral cooperation, as well as international relations issues. 

Nguyen Minh Triet highlighted the atmosphere of mutual trust that prevailed during the negotiations. He said the parties were unanimous on the willingness to develop the relations between Vietnam and Ukraine, and elevating them to a new level. 

“We would like to make the relations between Ukraine and Vietnam a real partnership and open new opportunities for cooperation," the Vietnamese President said, adding that it primarily concerns the area of trade-economic and investment relations. 

Among the promising areas of cooperation, Nguyen Minh Triet named machine-building, agriculture, energy, oil and gas industry. He also noted the importance of cooperation in culture and education. 

"We would also like to develop cooperation in defense and security, and staff training," he added. 

The President of Vietnam thanked the Ukrainian government for supporting Vietnamese nationals living in Ukraine. He also expressed appreciation for the Ukrainians, working in Vietnam for its development.