The Russian President highly valued Viet Nam’s socio-economic achievements and growing prestige during the past years of renovation. Meanwhile, State President Triet voiced his support for Russia’s greater role and influence in the region and the world. The two leaders expressed their pleasure that the traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic partnership between the two countries have been actively consolidated and enhanced. The two sides have maintained regular exchange of delegations, especially at high-ranking levels. In 2010 when the two countries celebrate their 60th anniversary years of diplomatic establishment, both Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nong Đuc and State President Nguyen Minh Triet paid official visits to Russia. Economic and trade linkages have registered significant progress, particularly in oil exploration and atomic energy. The two sides signed an inter-governmental agreement on building the first nuclear power plant in Viet Nam. The two-way trade turnover increased to $1.17 billion in the first eight months this year from US $1.83 billion in 2009. Việt Nam and Russia agreed to lift up the trade volume to $3 billion in 2012 and $10 billion in 2020 through a free trade agreement. Progress has also been made in technology, national defense, education, and cultural cooperation, the two leaders said. They stressed the importance of long-term military cooperation on the basis of the strategic partnership. President Medvedev said Russia would like to participate in infrastructure development, telecommunications, and hi-tech projects in Viet Nam. Viet Nam and Russia will continue to support each other and coordinate more closely in regional and international forums, said the leaders. State President Nguyen Minh Triet (standing, R) and Russian President D. Medvedev (standing, L) witness the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreements, Hanoi, October 31, 2010 Both the host and the guest believed that the visit made by President Medvedev would help expand the comprehensive cooperation between, deepen the strategic ties for peace, stability and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing ceremony of the agreements on building the first nuclear power plant in Viet Nam, on energy cooperation, intellectual property rights in military area, administrative assistance in customs, and others.