Enhancing the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation

Reporter: Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a state visit to Vietnam. Could you please tell us the significance of this visit?

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son: At the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin paid a State visit to Vietnam from June 19 to 20, 2024. This is a visit with many important meanings, which can be considered a highlight of Vietnam's foreign affairs in 2024, reflected in the following main points:

First of all, the visit affirms Vietnam's consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification of foreign relations for peace , friendship, cooperation and development, proactive and active international integration comprehensively and deeply, being a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community. By welcoming President Putin, Vietnam affirms that it always considers Russia as one of the top important partners, wishes to work with Russia to strengthen the long-standing traditional friendship and deepen the established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework.

Second, the visit took place in the context of the two countries celebrating the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on the basic principles of Vietnam-Russia friendship (June 16, 1994 - June 16, 2024), towards the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (January 30, 1950 - January 30, 2025), which is an opportunity for the two sides to evaluate the results achieved and set out orientations to develop the Vietnam-Russia cooperation and partnership in the coming time in a more comprehensive, effective and substantive manner.

The State visit to Vietnam by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin is a visit of great significance and can be considered a highlight of Vietnam's foreign relations in 2024.

Third, the visit demonstrates the importance given to Vietnam in implementing Russia's Look East foreign policy. In more than two decades of leading the Russian Federation, this is the fifth time President Vladimir Putin has visited Vietnam, and it is also one of his first foreign trips after being re-elected as President for the fifth term in March 2024. President Vladimir Putin's trips have left a strong impression and contributed to creating important foundations for the development of Vietnam-Russia relations, including initiating and supporting the establishment of the Vietnam-Russia Strategic Partnership in 2001 and upgrading it to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2012.

The two sides issued a “Joint Statement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Russian Federation on deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the basis of 30 years of implementing the Treaty on the Fundamental Principles of Vietnam-Russia Friendship Relations”, demonstrating the determination of the leaders and people of the two countries to make bilateral cooperation increasingly effective and substantive in all fields, worthy of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, meeting the needs and interests of both peoples, contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Reporter: Could you please tell us about the outstanding results that the two sides achieved during the visit?

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son: It can be said that President Vladimir Putin's visit has created a new impetus for multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Russia. Through the Joint Statement, 11 signed cooperation documents and meetings and exchanges between the two countries' senior leaders, the two sides agreed on major orientations to deepen the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the following aspects:

Firstly, strengthen dialogue and contacts at high and all levels and on all channels; effectively implement cooperation mechanisms to promote cooperation in all fields; continue to closely coordinate at multilateral forums, especially the United Nations, APEC, ASEAN-Russia cooperation mechanisms... Russia affirms its support for Vietnam to host APEC Year 2027 and is ready to coordinate with Vietnam to successfully organize this important event; continue to support ASEAN's central role in the regional structure.

Second, affirming that economic cooperation continues to be the pillar and focus of multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. The two sides will work together to remove difficulties and agree on solutions to improve the effectiveness of cooperation; improve the operational efficiency of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, especially the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic-Trade and Scientific-Technological Cooperation; soon agree on and implement the Master Plan for the Development of Vietnam-Russia Cooperation until 2030. The two sides will also work together to maximize the advantages of the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement, continue to remove trade barriers, further facilitate bilateral trade; expand access to the Russian market for Vietnam's exports of consumer goods and agricultural and aquatic products; promote investment cooperation, especially in infrastructure and energy.

Third, expand defense-security cooperation to respond to non-traditional security challenges and closely coordinate at multilateral defense-security forums, especially ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+), contributing to peace, stability, security, and safety in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

Fourth, promote cooperation in the fields of education-training, science-technology, tourism, labor, culture, arts, sports, local cooperation, people-to-people exchange, youth education, etc. to consolidate a solid humanistic foundation for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. During the visit, the two sides signed 11 cooperation documents between ministries, branches and enterprises of the two countries, creating momentum to promote bilateral relations. The two sides agreed to continue creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens in Russia and Russian citizens in Vietnam to live, study and work stably, serving as a bridge of friendship between the two countries.

Fifth, the two sides' senior leaders had a frank and trusting exchange on international and regional issues of mutual concern. Accordingly, the two sides affirmed their support for a fair international relations system based on international law and the United Nations Charter, especially the peaceful settlement of disputes, non-threat and use of force, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides supported the assurance of security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation; non-use of force or threat of force, peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and support the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

President Vladimir Putin's State visit to Vietnam was a great success. We gave President Vladimir Putin and the Russian high-ranking delegation a very respectful, warm and thoughtful welcome. The Vietnamese people, especially those who have studied and worked in the former Soviet Union and in the Russian Federation today, always keep and cherish the good feelings towards the country and people of Russia. With the tradition of drinking water and remembering its source, the Vietnamese people will never forget the great and wholehearted support and assistance that the Russian people have given to Vietnam in the past struggle for national independence and reunification, as well as in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland today.

With the tradition of "remembering the source of water when drinking water", the Vietnamese people will never forget the great and wholehearted support and assistance that the Russian people have given to Vietnam in the past struggle for national independence and reunification, as well as in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland today.

The two sides treasured the long-standing traditional friendship that has been established and nurtured by many generations of leaders and people of the two countries, becoming a valuable common asset between the two nations, a foundation for the Vietnam-Russian Federation Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to continue to develop for the benefit of each country and contribute to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world. This sentiment, the positive achievements in implementing the 1994 Treaty on the basic principles of Vietnam-Russia friendship and the important results achieved during the visit will be an important basis for the two countries to inherit and promote, continue to develop and elevate the long-standing traditional friendship and the Vietnam-Russian Federation Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Reporter: Thank you very much, Minister.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nang-tam-quan-he-huu-nghi-truyen-thong-va-doi-tac-chien-luoc-toan-dien-viet-nam-lien-bang-nga-post815566.html