Moscow (VNA) –Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi paid a working visit to Kalugaoblast on August 17, with economic cooperation among the focuses of the trip.

Working with the diplomat,Kaluga Governor Vladislav Shapsha said his oblast’s economic ties withVietnam have been thriving in recent years.

Bilateral trade topped 315million USD in 2020, rising 10-fold in three years, and Vietnam currently ranksfifth among foreign trade partners of Kaluga, he noted, adding that local businessesare interested in expanding partnerships with the Southeast Asian nation.

Voicing his delight at theflourishing relations between Kaluga and Vietnam, Khoi emphasised that the oblast holds great significance in developing the two countries’ cooperation.

He said Kaluga is one of thefirst Russian localities he has visited, and that he is impressed with the hugeeconomic, industrial, investment, and sci-tech potential, as well as otherstrengths of the oblast.

However, he pointed out thattrade and economic links between the two nations have yet to match theirpotential.

The ambassador highly valuedKaluga’s incentives and support for investors, including TH True Milk ofVietnam, which is making efforts to complete its project there soon.

Suggesting cooperation prioritiesfor the coming time, Khoi said if the existing rail route between Kaluga and Chinais optimised and connected with Vietnam, trade between Vietnam and Russia maydouble to reach 10 billion USD per year in the near future.

A private business owning anairline in Vietnam is showing its interest in setting up a logistics centre inRussia. As Kaluga is close to Moscow, this enterprisecan join in the construction of an airport in the oblast, thus helpingfacilitate travel between the two countries, according to the diplomat.

He also asked Kaluga, in itscapacity, to assist Vietnam with COVID-19 treatment drugs and medical equipment.

For his part, Shapshaspoke highly of the ambassador's proposals, affirming his readiness to have in-depthdiscussions about travel promotion as Vietnam is a favourite destination ofRussians.

He also pledged to discusssupport for and cooperation with Vietnam in the pandemic fight with localrelevant agencies.

Visiting Vorsino IndustryPark in Kaluga, Khoi met with Deputy Governor Vladimir Potemkin and Director ofthe Agency for Regional Development of Kaluga Nikolay Andreev, recommending strongerlabour cooperation as the oblast is boosting the development of industrialparks.

Aspart of the trip, the ambassador also had a meeting with Mayor of Obninsk city Tatiana Leonova./.