Rustam Minnikhanov: “We are interested in maintaining and developing contacts with Vietnam”

Republic of Tatarstan is interested in maintaining and developing political, economic and cultural contacts with Vietnam, President Rustam Minnikhanov said at a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to Russia Bui Din Zin. Other attendees at the meeting that took place at the House of Government were Tatarstan industry and trade minister Ravil Zaripov, Tatarstan President department of external relations head Timur Akulov, counsellor-envoy of the embassy of Vietnam, head of the economic department Nguen Tiy Tam, counsellor for political affairs Nguen Than Van and the embassy’s first secretary Le Min Zan.

Opening the meeting, Rustam Minnikhanov said Russia and Vietnam had traditionally had very friendly relations. Speaking of Vietnam’s cooperation with Tatarstan, the President highlighted a contract for the Gorky shipyard to build two Guepard frigates for the Vietnamese navy. The ships are currently in Konshtadt, waiting to be delivered to the customer.

“We are enormously proud two state-of-the-art ships for Vietnam have been built by our plant,” R. Minnikhanov stated. “We hope this area of cooperation will be further promoted, in the civil as well as military branch. Our plant has a number of projects that could be interesting for a country that is as rich in water resources as Vietnam.”

Rustam Minnikhanov went on to note a Kamaz assembly joint venture was successfully operating in Vietnam. “We should further promote Kamaz products on your markets,” the Tatar chief executive told the ambassador.

“Your country operates about 100 helicopters made in Kazan, and we would like to know how much is your country is interested in buying new machines,” the president said.

The republic could also share its expertise in recovering and refining oil. Speaking of cooperation in the field of education, Rustam Minnikhanov recalled Vietnamese students had studied in Kazan in the times of the USSR. “To my knowledge, there are now 70 Vietnamese students studying in Kazan, but we would like their number to increase at least ten-fold,” R. Minnikanov stated. “We have provided every condition for foreign students living and studying here.”

The President expressed expectation Vietnamese representatives would take part in the Universiade 2013 sporting event.

“It is time Vietnamese business came to Russia, and you can do it via Tatarstan,” R. Minnikhanov told the ambassador. “Let us set up civilised trade floors for your citizens to work in Tatarstan, and develop light industry that has traditionally been your strength.”

Bui Din Zin in turn thanked Rustam Minnikhanov for the opportunity to meet. “The political relations between us have always been very warm, but we should boost the trading relations,” the ambassador holds. He proposed to reciprocally send business Tatarstan and Vietnam delegations, to explore the possibilities for business development. Bui Din Zin invited Rustam Minnikhanov to visit Vietnam.

The Tatarstan President noted Vietnam and Tatarstan had a lot of potential for cooperation. “We are interested in maintaining the contacts we have with Vietnam and in building new ones,” R. Minnikhanov concluded.