Russia will upgrade military and technical cooperation with Vietnam to a new qualitative level, as suggested by President Vladimir Putin. Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, Deputy Director of the Russian Federal Services for Military-Technical Cooperation and head of the Russian Sub-Committee under the Vietnam – Russia Inter-Governmental Committee o­n Military-Technical Cooperation, made the statement at the committee’s 14 th meeting in Moscow o­n October 18. Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister, Sen. Lt. Gen Truong Quang Khanh, head of the Vietnamese sub-committee, said the bilateral cooperation is effectively helping Vietnam improve its defence capability as well as safeguard its national security and sovereignty, for peace and stability in the region. The two sides highlighted the fine growth of the Vietnam – Russia military and technical cooperation over the past time, saying that it matches the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, the development of which was agreed upon during the July visit to Russia by President Truong Tan Sang