PUTIN COMMENTS ON HIS VIETNAMESE VISIT








HANOI, MARCH 2, 2001, /RIA-NOVOSTI SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT/ -- President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation talked briefly to his Vietnamese counterpart Tran Duc Luong today, before leaving Hanoi. According to Putin, his Vietnamese visit has exceeded all expectations. The Russian leader was particularly impressed with that all-out warm-hearted reception, perceiving this as a display of the Vietnamese nation's kind-hearted feelings toward Russia.


	My Hanoi talks were quite profound and useful, Putin went on to say, also voicing confidence to the effect that various extremely important documents, which were signed during the visit, would constitute the foundation of subsequent bilateral interaction.


	For his own part, Tran Duc Luong noted that the people of Vietnam welcomed the distinguished Russian guest in a truly joyful manner. Vietnam and Russia are bound by relations of traditional friendship and fraternity, he added.


	Tran Duc Luong also voiced his confidence to the effect that the strategic-partnership declaration, which was inked by the leaders of our two countries, as well as Putin's meetings and conversations with Vietnamese leaders, would contribute greatly to the development of bilateral relations.