Santiago, Nov. 21 (VNA) - Russia attaches importance to multi-faceted cooperation with Viet Nam, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong in Santiago, Chile, on the sidelines of the 12th APEC summit.

President Putin especially asked for Viet Nam's support for the Viet Nam-Russia Oil and Gas Joint Venture Enterprise (Vietsovpetro), which he said is a symbol of the cooperation between the two countries.

Russia will send the Duma Chairman to visit Viet Nam next year on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, and will hold a Russia cultural day in Ha Noi, the russian President said.

Putin reiterated his invitation to President Luong to visit Russia and asked the Vietnamese President to convey his best regards to Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh.

President Luong spoke highly of the strategic partnership between the two countries and called for stronger political, economic, commercial, investment and cultural relations on that basis.

The Vietnamese President once again thanked Russia for its support of Viet Nam's candidacy for a non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council during 2008-09. He affirmed Viet Nam's continued coordination with Russia in the United Nations and other international organisations and forums, particularly in the fight against the abuse of the human rights and interference in other countries' internal affairs.

President Luong said Russia's growth and development is necessary for world stability. He expressed Viet Nam's support for Russia's policies and measures to combat terrorism, and pledged Viet Nam's continued coordination with Russia in the terrorism fight.

The Vietnamese President also applauded the State Duma's approval of Russian Law on Joining the Amity and Cooperation Treaty in Southeast Asia, saying that the move will create favourable conditions for cooperation and coordination between the two countries at regional and international forums to develop both in width and depth.

Luong stressed the need to increase the efficiency of bilateral cooperation, and promote the operation of the Viet Nam-Russia Inter-governmental Committee for Economic,  Commercial, Scientific and Technological Cooperation, which failed to meet for its 10th time this summer.

President Luong invited President Putin to visit Viet Nam at a time of his convenience.

Also on the sidelines of the 12th APEC summit, President Luong met with representatives of the US business community. He highly appreciated the community's role in boosting economic and commercial ties between the two countries. The President called upon them to increase investment in Viet Nam and support Viet Nam's bid to join the World Trade Organisation.