Prof. Dr. Trần Hồng Thái, Standing Vice President of the Việt Nam Academy of Science and Technology, speaks at the scientific and educational forum. — VNA/VNS Photo Tâm Hằng

MOSCOW — A scientific and educational forum themed “Russia–Việt Nam: 75 Years of Cooperation,” held from Thursday to Saturday, officially launched the Russia–Việt Nam Year of Scientific and Educational Cooperation 2026.

In a recorded message to the event, Việt Nam's Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà reflected on his study years in Russia. He described human-resources training in the former Soviet Union as an invaluable strategic contribution to Việt Nam’s development, likening it to a “golden key” to knowledge. He noted that generations of Vietnamese scientists, leaders and managers educated in the former Soviet Union and Russia today have become a priceless asset and the enduring “red thread” connecting the two peoples.

He stated that, on this historical foundation, both countries aim to strengthen trusted, sustainable and effective cooperation in the digital era and knowledge economy, jointly shaping a prosperous future and contributing to global progress. Beyond traditional strengths in fundamental sciences, he said Việt Nam and Russia have ample opportunity to broaden collaboration into strategic technological domains.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Đặng Minh Khôi underscored that scientific and educational cooperation has long been, and will continue to be, a firm bridge between the two countries, established from the earliest days of diplomatic ties when President Hồ Chí Minh sent the first Vietnamese officials to study in the former Soviet Union.

The forum’s opening day featured a plenary session on the strategic partnership, the signing of a marine research roadmap, and thematic discussions covering hydrology, ecology, biomedicine and pharmacology.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency in Russia, Prof. Dr. Trần Hồng Thái, Standing Vice President of the Việt Nam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), highlighted science and technology as a pillar of long-term cooperation. Over the past 75 years, he said, collaboration with the former Soviet Union and Russia today has built a strong foundation enabling Việt Nam to absorb technologies from Russia and globally.

With 2026 designated as the Year of Science and Training, he emphasised that both sides are entering a new phase for long-term strategic cooperation. Future collaboration, he added, will expand from basic sciences into areas of strategic relevance to Việt Nam, including nuclear energy, high-speed rail technology, heat-resistant materials and ecological technologies.

On the same day, Prof. Thai and Prof. Yuri Kulchin, Vice President of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, signed a cooperation agreement between their respective academies.

On the financial aspect of cooperation, Ngô Sĩ Quốc, Deputy Executive Director of the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED), reported that the foundation recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) on the joint selection and funding of advanced research projects in natural sciences, engineering, and the social sciences and humanities.

Under the MoU, the RSF will provide Russian research teams with 4–7 million RUB annually depending on project scale, while NAFOSTED will fund Vietnamese teams with up to VNĐ10 billion for a three-year cycle, with the possibility of increased support for projects of exceptional academic merit or strong application potential. These commitments, he said, demonstrate both sides’ confidence in advancing effective cooperation.

The forum also featured a series of discussions on social and humanitarian cooperation, inter-university partnerships and cultural dialogue. — VNA/VNS