Russian minister of defense visits Vietnam to boost ties

A high-ranking Russian military delegation led by Minister of Defense General Sergei Shoigu paid an official visit to Vietnam from March 4 to 5, at the invitation of Vietnamese Minister of National Defense General Phung Quang Thanh, Vietnam's state-run news agency reported on Monday. The visit, the first to Vietnam made by Sergei Shoigu since he took office on November 6, 2012 as Russian minister of defense, took place in the context that Vietnam and Russia have lifted their strategic partnership to comprehensive strategic partnership since July 2012. Hence the visit is expected to contribute to consolidating and strengthening their traditional and friendly relations, and for long-term and stable development in military and military techniques, said the report. During his stay, Sergei Shoigu planned to hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Phung Quang Thanh, pay a courtesy visit to Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang, visit the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center and the Vietnamese Navy's Zone 4 headquarter.