Party General Secretary Tô Lâm (right) had talks with Nikolai Patrusev, Aide to the President of Russia and Chairman of the Maritime Board of Russia in Hà Nội on September 16. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary Tô Lâm on Tuesday received Nikolai Patrusev, Aide to the President of Russia and Chairman of the Maritime Board of Russia, who is on an official visit to Việt Nam from September 15-18.

General Secretary Lâm expressed his pleasure in meeting again with Nikolai Patrusev, a long-time friend and comrade. Recalling the positive impressions from their warm, open, and substantive meetings during his official visit to Russia in May, he emphasised that the current visit by the Russian delegation is a concrete and effective demonstration of the bilateral relationship, especially in concretising high-level agreements reached between the two countries.

The Party chief affirmed that to achieve the strategic goals of national development in the coming time, Việt Nam needs to become a powerful maritime nation, actively contributing to peace, security, cooperation and development in the region and the world. He proposed that Russia, as a major power with extensive experience in maritime activities, support and cooperate with Việt Nam on the basis of mutual benefit, in line with the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Praising the recent positive developments in bilateral relations across all areas, General Secretary Lâm suggested that the Russian Maritime Board and Nikolai Patrusev personally support and promote cooperation with Việt Nam in maritime policy research, marine and ocean science, development of maritime infrastructure, sea transport routes, logistics systems, and human resource training.

He also called for Russia's support in helping Việt Nam manage and sustainably utilise its maritime space in a way that aligns with each country’s interests and contributes to peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.

In response, Nikolai Patrusev affirmed that Russia values the development of its comprehensive strategic partnership with Việt Nam as one of its most important relationships in the Asia-Pacific region.

He briefed the host on the results of productive and substantive meetings held with Vietnamese agencies and ministries during the visit, noting that cooperation in the maritime field, though relatively new, holds great promise for both sides. He considered this an important step in implementing the Joint Statement on major directions for bilateral relations in the new period of cooperation, as well as fulfilling the commitments made during General Secretary Lâm's visit to Russia in May 2025.

He confirmed Russia’s willingness to work closely with Việt Nam in developing international shipping routes, using Việt Nam's deep-water ports as international logistics hubs that benefit both countries, Southeast Asia, and the world.

Both sides appreciated the outcomes of bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Việt Nam–Russia Tropical Centre, agreeing to further enhance its effectiveness. They also reached consensus on expanding bilateral cooperation in scientific research, the development and application of advanced technologies and new materials, and other fields where both sides have shared interests and strengths, laying a firm foundation for elevating the bilateral relationship to new heights.

General Secretary Lâm expressed support for Russia’s efforts to enhance its role and voice in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific. He also called on Russia to support Việt Nam's and ASEAN’s positions on the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) issue, based on adherence to international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On this occasion, Nikolai Patrusev presented the Vietnamese Party leader with the “For Cooperation in Maritime Affairs” Medal, in recognition of his significant contributions to the comprehensive strategic partnership between Việt Nam and Russia, particularly his role in guiding bilateral maritime cooperation. — VNA/VNS