Vietnamese President Tô Lâm (right) and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Hà Nội on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

HÀ NỘI — Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to Việt Nam from June 19 to 20 at the invitation of Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng has contributed to deepening and enhancing the Comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

The visit was of significance as both sides are carrying out the joint statement on the vision of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to 2030, while Việt Nam is performing the 13th National Party Congress’s resolution on the consistent implementation of the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralism of international relations. This will ensure the interests of the nation and people to the highest level on the grounds of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law, equality, cooperation and mutual benefit.

Extensive cooperation in all areas

President Putin’s two-day visit to Việt Nam has helped to affirm the country’s position and prestige while promoting the pioneer role of its foreign policy to create and preserve peace and mobilise resources for development.

The bilateral relations have stood the test of time, and developed extensively in all domains.

Việt Nam and Russia have reaped the benefits of high political trust thanks to diversified political cooperation forms and mechanisms like regular exchange of delegations at all levels that help leaders of both nations exchange information and direct the development of the bilateral ties in a timely manner.

They have set up and effectively carried out an arsenal of mechanisms that underpin this mutual understanding and deep political trust. These include inter-governmental meetings, strategic dialogues and annual political consultations, providing a basis for bolstering the multi-faceted cooperation between the two nations which have supported and worked closely together in international organisations like the UN, ASEAN, APEC and ARF.

At the same time, bilateral economic-trade cooperation has developed positively with two-way trade rising 10-15 per cent per year in some periods, which results from the signing of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Despite the impacts from the instability in the world and the regional situation, two-way trade in 2023 still topped US$3.6 billion. Russia has invested in nearly 200 projects in Việt Nam with a total capital of nearly $1 billion, while Việt Nam has registered some $3 billion in 25 projects in Russia. An important highlight in economic cooperation between the two countries is the strong development in the fields of energy, oil, and gas.

Bilateral cooperation in other fields such as science and technology, culture, education, tourism, and locality-to-locality collaboration have been expanded, with partnerships in science and technology, and education-training elevated to a strategic level.

Over the past years, cultural exchange activities have contributed greatly to the close relations between the two countries' people.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Đặng Minh Khôi, the relationship between Việt Nam and Russia has inherited the special friendship between Việt Nam and the former Soviet Union.

After a period of interruption in the early 1990s, with the determination and efforts of leaders and people of the two countries, the Việt Nam - Russia relationship has made strong progress. They established a strategic partnership in 2001 and lifted it to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2012, the diplomat noted.

Looking back on the sound cooperation between the two nations over the past years, Russian Ambassador to Việt Nam Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko affirmed that since the comprehensive strategic partnership was set up, the traditional friendship has developed strongly in all sectors.

Russia prioritises the promotion of the close friendship with Việt Nam, one of its key partner in Southeast Asia, for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

Providing impetus for cooperation

During his stay in Việt Nam, President Putin held talks with Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and President Tô Lâm, and met with Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, and National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn.

Both sides discussed measures to enhance the bilateral relations across the domains of politics, economy-trade, science-technology and humanity, as well as those on regional and international issues of mutual concerns in the spirit of trust.

Party General Secretary Trọng and President Putin expressed their delight at the positive development of the Việt Nam-Russia relations, illustrated by the sound political-diplomatic ties, maintained economic-trade cooperation, consolidated defence-security cooperation, enhanced collaboration in the other fields, and effective relations between social organisations and people-to-people exchanges.

They agreed on orientations and major measures to create impetus to boost the bilateral relations to a deep, practical and effective manner for the interests of the two countries' people and for peace and stability in the region and the world.

Both sides reached consensus on continuing to enhance mutual understanding and trust by facilitating high-level visits and exchanges through the Party, State and parliamentary channels, developing cooperation across economy-trade, investment, science and technology, while consolidating defence-security cooperation, and discussing ways to handle several challenges in accordance with international law and specific conditions in each country.

In the energy and, oil and gas sectors, they pledged to create favourable conditions for their companies to carry out existing projects and expand new ones. They also promised to boost collaboration in agriculture, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people and locality-to-locality exchanges.

They acknowledged the significant contributions of the Vietnamese community in Russia, considering them a vital bridge between the two nations.

The Vietnamese Party leader affirmed that Việt Nam always treasures the traditional relations and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, which is a leading priority in the country’s foreign policy.

Việt Nam supports Russia’s positive contributions to the international community and its “turn to the east” policy, he said, expressing his belief that a peaceful, independent and strong Việt Nam with growing prestige aligns with Russia’s long-term interests in the Asia-Pacific and the world.

The two sides issued a joint statement on further deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership, building on the achievements of the past three decades.

On the occasion, President Lâm and President Putin witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents between ministries and sectors of both sides in various spheres, including education, nuclear technology research, disease prevention, oil exploration, and justice.

According to Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the committee’s Commission for External Relations Lê Hoài Trung, President Putin’s state visit to Việt Nam took place shortly after he was sworn in as the Russian President for a new term. The visit was a clear demonstration of the high evaluation of Việt Nam's fortune, potential, and international prestige by Russia, President Putin, and the international community after 40 years of đổi mới (renewal). It also showed the Russian leader’s respect for Party General Secretary Trọng, who has significantly contributed to the bilateral relations.

The visit also illustrated the respect that the two nations have for each other as well as their friendship and solidarity, contributing to raising their positions in the international arena for the mutual interest of the two countries' people, and for peace and stability in the region and the world. — VNS