Vietnam and Russia on Tuesday issued a joint statement in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on the occasion of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Vietnam.

The two sides affirmed to continue strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries for mutual beneficial cooperation, according to Vietnam's state news agency VNA.

They spoke highly of the positive development of the two countries' economic and trade cooperation and agreed to bring two- way trade to seven billion US dollars by 2015 and ten billion dollars by 2020.

They prioritized cooperation in nuclear power, especially the joint project to build the first Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant. The Russian side affirmed to continue training Vietnamese experts, scientists and managers to help Vietnam develop its nuclear energy for peaceful purpose.

The two sides agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in oil and gas exploration and exploitation in Vietnam's continental shelf in line with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

They agreed to create necessary conditions for the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group, and Gazprom Group and Zarubezhneft Company of Russia to expand oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities in both countries.

The two sides expressed their determination to successfully conclude the negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Both sides affirmed their determination to further expand and deepen cooperation within the framework of regional multilateral organizations.

Putin arrived in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Tuesday morning. During his one-day visit to Vietnam, Putin held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang and met with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong.