Vietnam, EEU agree on free trade zone deal
All the key issues over a Vietnamese free trade zone with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) have been agreed. The deal should be sealed by July, according to Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung, RT reports.
“The preparation of documents has entered the home straight. All the principal issues, once again, have been discussed. I hope that we will soon be able to turn to signing this agreement,” said Medvedev as quoted by RIA.
"Our turnover has slightly decreased in recent years, so, in order to improve the situation, we decided to instruct our ministries, businesses and agencies on both sides to take measures in signing an agreement on a free trade zone between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union in the first half of 2015,”Nguyen said on Monday to journalists, adding that Vietnam seeks to increase trade with Russia to $10 billion by 2020.
Medvedev confirmed plans to boost bilateral trade in the five years following, noting that it fell to $3.7 billion in 2014 from $4 billion in 2013.
"We have seen some reduction in trade in the past year, which, as we have stated, will be temporary, and we are sure about it," he said adding that establishing a free trade zone between Vietnam and the EEU is going to be an effective measure in pursuing the plan.