Hanoi (VNA) – Expo-Russia Vietnam2017, the second edition, is scheduled to take place at Melia Hanoi fromDecember 13 to 15 with a view to promoting the two countries’ trade andeconomic ties and Russia’s export to Southeast Asia.

Nguyen Tuan Hai, deputy head of theinternational relations department of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce andIndustry (VCCI), said at a press conference on December 11 that the expo willshowcase products and services for export, investment projects, and researchfindings of businesses, universities and research agencies.

It will also introduce achievements in energy,machine manufacturing, transport, telecommunication, mining, chemical industry,health care, agriculture, and hi-tech industries.

He noted at the expo, which will attracthundreds of businesses from the two countries, Vietnamese firms will have achance to learn about Russia’s investment environment and seek businesspartnership.

D.R.Vartanov, Director of Russian companyZarubezh Expo – head of the expo’s organising board, said at the first event inDecember 2015, the Russian side inked 172 agreements with Vietnamese partners.

Russian businesses are paying special attentionto the Asian-Pacific region, he noted, expressing his belief that the twocountries will reap more successes in cooperation in energy, transport, healthcare, telecommunications and tourism.

A series of trade promotion activities will takeplace as part of the expo, including a Vietnam-Russia business forum, aworkshop on economic cooperation between member countries of the EurasianEconomic Union and Vietnam, and roundtables on agriculture, energy, transport,and health care.

According to the General Department of VietnamCustoms, bilateral trade was at 1.7 billion USD in the first six months of2017, including over 1 billion USD of Vietnam’s exports to Russia.-VNA