Phuc expressed his delight at developments in the ties, with economic and trade cooperation remaining a bright spot. PM urges stronger multifaceted cooperation with NetherlandsPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag. Although they are retired, the Russian friends still have kept a close watch on Vietnam’s development, and contributed, in their own capacity, to consolidating the bilateral friendship. The sides have worked closely in planting border markers and are planning to raise bilateral trade to 5 billion USD ahead of 2020, the leader said. Currently, the two nations are enjoying sound bilateral trade with average annual growth standing at 12.5 percent and trade value hitting over 9 billion USD in 2017.