HANOI. – President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, will pay an official visit to Vietnam from Friday to Saturday at the invitation of Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang.

The visit aims to strengthen multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, especially in economics, trade and in the fields of the two countries’ strength, as well as to exchange views on international and regional issues of common concerns, informs VietNamNet Bridge.

President Serzh Sargsyan’s visit takes place in the context the two countries’ traditional friendship has seen positive developments and coincident with the 20th anniversary of the Vietnam-Armenia diplomatic ties (July 20).

Vietnam and Armenia have witnessed traditional friendship and maintained fine political relations with delegation exchanges at all level.

Former Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet met with President Serzh Sargsyan on the sidelines of the celebration of 65th anniversary of Fascism Victory, in Moscow on May 9, 2010.

Meanwhile, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian visited Vietnam in February 2012, during which he spoke highly of Vietnam’s role and prestige in the region and expressed a hope that Vietnam will support Armenia in expanding relations with Southeast Asian countries.

Though the two countries’ relations have seen developments, trade ties yet matched the potentials. Two-way trade reached nearly US$ 21 million in 2010, of which Vietnam’s exports worth $5.1 million, and in 2011, $7.4 million. 

Armenia imported telephones and spare parts, products made from iron and steel, rice, tea, coffee, seafood and garments from Vietnam, and exported machineries, components and spare parts, cotton, wood and wooden products and material plastic.