Putin speaks of growing trade, positive development of bilateral relations at meeting with Vietnamese FM

MOSCOW. Feb 24 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken about the positive development of Russian-Vietnamese relations at a meeting with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung on Tuesday.

"Our bilateral relations have been developing positively, and trade has been growing. We have substantive, candid dialogue on every issue, including political dimension. I know that you, Mr. Minister, have a busy program today. I have no doubt that the work will be useful," Putin said.

He congratulated Le on the Lunar New Year, traditionally celebrated in Vietnam, and said that Moscow was happy to see the Vietnamese foreign minister.

"Please convey my best wishes to Vietnamese Communist Party Secretary General [To Lam], all our Vietnamese friends, and the entire people of Vietnam, my greetings and best wishes," Putin said,

He said he had a recent phone call with To and "gladly congratulated him on being reelected secretary general of the Vietnamese Communist Party."

"We can see that the work done by the Vietnamese leadership and the secretary general enjoys the support of the Vietnamese people. We welcome your every success," Putin said.