HANOI/MOSCOWgamblingcrash, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam and Russia issued on Thursday a joint statement to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam News Agency reported.

The statement was made after the talks between Vietnamese President To Lam and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who was on a state visit to Vietnam.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents on such fields as education and justice, pledging to strengthen high-level exchanges and promote bilateral trade and investment.

Putin said that Russia places great importance on further strengthening the traditionally friendly Russian-Vietnamese relations, adding that ties between the two countries are based on equality, mutual respect, and "continue to develop progressively."

In a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Putin said that Moscow will aim to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries despite current difficulties.■