Strongly developing the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

At the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin paid an official visit to Vietnam on January 14 and 15, 2025.

The visit took place in the context of the recent continuous strengthening of relations between the two countries, aiming to further deepen the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, towards the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (January 30, 1950 - January 30, 2025).

More than 7 decades of good traditional relations between the two peoples of Vietnam and Russia

Going back in history, throughout the struggle of the Vietnamese people for national independence and reunification in the past and the cause of national construction and development today, the Party, State and people of the former Soviet Union (now the Russian Federation) have always given the Party, State and people of Vietnam sympathy, support, and sincere and wholehearted help.

The Soviet Union was one of the first countries in the world to recognize and officially establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam on January 30, 1950, laying the foundation for the strong friendship and good cooperation between the two countries later on.

Relations between the two countries entered a new stage of development after signing the Treaty on the basic principles of friendly relations between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Russian Federation.   (June 16, 1994), laid the foundation and legal basis for the relationship between the two countries in the new development stage. Up to now, the leaders of the two countries have always affirmed that the Treaty on the basic principles in the friendly relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation is a historical document of great significance, symbolizing the beginning of a new stage in the development of multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and the Russian Federation, creating the premise for bringing the relationship between the two countries to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Over the past 30 years, generations of leaders and people of the two countries have made constant efforts to foster a strong friendship, consolidate and promote comprehensive bilateral cooperation in all fields, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet and Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin signed the Treaty on the basic principles of friendly relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation (Moscow, June 16, 1994). (Photo: Minh Dao/VNA)

Following the Treaty on the Basic Principles of the Vietnam-Russian Federation Friendship Relations (June 16, 1994), the framework of relations between the two countries in the 21st century has been continuously enhanced by: the two countries establishing a Strategic Partnership in 2001; a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2012; in 2021, the two countries signed a Joint Statement on the Vision of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to 2030; in June 2024, the Joint Statement on deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the basis of 30 years of achievements in implementing the Treaty on the Basic Principles of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Relations.

These are very important milestones, marking the development of relations between the two countries, 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.

Over the past 30 years, generations of leaders and people of the two countries have made constant efforts to foster a strong friendship, consolidate and promote comprehensive bilateral cooperation in all fields, for the benefit of the people of the two countries.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to the Russian Federation Dang Minh Khoi, the achievements that the two countries have made in each period have created the premise for further development in the next period. The invaluable assets gained from 75 years of Vietnam-Russia cooperation are the sustainable traditional friendship and high political trust. This is the luggage for the two countries to continue on the new journey.

With the foundation of good feelings between the leaders and people of the two countries, Vietnam-Russia political relations have a high level of trust, delegation exchanges and contacts at all levels, including high-level ones, take place regularly, creating a strong driving force for comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Recently, there have been visits and contacts between high-ranking leaders of the two countries, such as: Head of the Central External Relations Commission Le Hoai Trung visited Russia (January 2024); General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong had a phone call with President Putin on the occasion of his re-election as President of Russia (March 2024); Minister of Public Security To Lam visited Russia (April 2024); Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attended the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (June 2024); Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court Nguyen Hoa Binh visited Russia (July 2024); Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang visited Russia (August 2024); Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang and Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat visited Russia (September 2024); Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha visited Russia and co-chaired the 25th meeting of the Vietnam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee (September 2024); National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man paid an official visit to Russia and co-chaired the 3rd meeting of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (September 2024); Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the BRICS Leaders' Meeting in Kazan (Russia) (October 2024); President Luong Cuong met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk on the occasion of attending the APEC 2024 Summit Week in Lima (Peru) (November 15, 2024)...

Leaders of Vietnam and Russia have had many visits and contacts in recent times. (Photo: VNA)

On the Russian side, there were visits to Vietnam by: Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko on an official visit, co-chairing the 24th Session of the Vietnam-Russia Intergovernmental Commission (April 2023); Chairman of the ruling United Russia Party, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev on an official visit to Vietnam (May 2023); Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Parliament Vyacheslav Viktorovich Volodin on an official visit to Vietnam (October 2023); President Vladimir Putin on a state visit to Vietnam (June 2024); Russian President Putin had a phone call and congratulated President To Lam on the occasion of his election as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (August 2024)...

In addition to high-level visits and contacts, the two countries also maintain the mechanism of the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic-Trade and Scientific-Technological Cooperation, established in 1992 and upgraded to the Deputy Prime Minister level in 2011; The Intergovernmental Committee meets annually. Most recently, the 25th Session of the Vietnam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee was held in Russia in September 2024.

The two sides closely coordinate at multilateral forums and international organizations such as the United Nations, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the Forum for Interaction and Confidence Building in Asia (CICA).

Dynamic development of economic-trade-investment cooperation

Cooperation in many diverse fields, the Vietnam-Russia relationship is increasingly deep and substantive. Economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has developed dynamically in recent times. The growth rate of bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and the Russian Federation has increased rapidly, especially since the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union officially took effect in October 2016.

In 2023, bilateral trade turnover will reach 3.63 billion USD; in 2024, it will reach 4.57 billion USD. Vietnam's main exports to Russia include phones, electronics, textiles, footwear, agricultural, aquatic and seafood products of all kinds...; main imports include coal, wheat, iron and steel, fertilizers, cars, machinery and equipment of all kinds...

Regarding investment, cumulatively up to November 2024, Russia has 199 investment projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of about 990 million USD, ranking 26th out of 147 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, implemented in 21 out of 63 localities, including offshore oil and gas areas, accommodation and catering services, processing and manufacturing industries, etc.

On the other hand, Vietnam has 16 valid investment projects in Russia with a total registered capital of 1.6 billion USD, ranking 4th out of 81 countries and territories in which Vietnam has invested, mainly from Rusvietpetro Oil and Gas Joint Venture projects, TH Group's dairy and agricultural projects in Russia, and a number of industrial and real estate projects...

In addition, cooperation between the two countries in fields such as science-technology, culture, education, tourism, localities, etc. is increasingly expanded, in which cooperation in science-technology and education-training between the two countries is promoted and raised to a strategic level.

Russia has become an attractive destination for many Vietnamese students thanks to its high-quality scholarship and training programs, including in key industries such as energy, oil and gas, and basic sciences.

Tens of thousands of scientists, engineers and technical workers trained in the Russian Federation have made positive and effective contributions to the Vietnamese economy and are a factor in creating a bridge of friendship between the people of the two countries. Since 2019, Russia has increased the number of scholarships for Vietnam to about 1,000 per year. Currently, there are about 5,000 Vietnamese students studying in the Russian Federation.

Cooperation in many diverse fields, Vietnam-Russia relations are increasingly deep and substantive. Economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has developed dynamically in recent times.

Regular cultural exchange activities also contribute to increasing understanding between the two peoples and creating conditions to promote cooperation in other areas. The two sides annually and alternately organize Cultural Days in Vietnam and Russia. Most recently, the Vietnamese Cultural Days in Russia were successfully organized in July 2024.

Cooperation between localities of the two countries continues to be maintained and enhanced through delegation exchanges and the signing of many cooperation agreements. Currently, about 20 pairs of relations between localities of the two countries have been established, especially between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Moscow, Saint Petersburg, etc.

The Vietnamese community in Russia currently has about 60,000 people, always attached to and considers Russia as their second homeland. In the Russian Federation, Vietnamese organizations have been established such as the Vietnamese Association in the Russian Federation, the Business Association, the Veterans Association, the Student Association in Moscow, the Literature and Arts Association, the Science and Technology Association, the Medical and Pharmaceutical Association, the Martial Arts Association, and the Associations of fellow countrymen... The Vietnamese community in Russia has made many contributions to the country and the host country, helping to strengthen the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Deepening the Vietnam-Russian Federation Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

With the foundation of the good relations between the two countries over many years, the official visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin on January 14 and 15, 2025 is of great significance, taking place in the context that the two countries have just celebrated the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on the basic principles of the Vietnam-Russian Federation friendship (June 16, 1994 - June 16, 2024) and are looking forward to the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (January 30, 1950 - January 30, 2025). The visit will continue to bring the two countries' cooperation closer and more effectively, together towards a better future.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi, this is Prime Minister Mishustin's first visit to Vietnam, aiming to strengthen the Vietnam-Russian Federation Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and prepare for important activities of the bilateral relationship in 2025.

Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The visit shows that the two countries attach importance to their traditional friendship and demonstrate their determination to continue consolidating and strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Russia affirms that Vietnam is a reliable partner, an important priority in Russia's Eastward policy, and wishes to promote all-round cooperation with Vietnam. For its part, Vietnam always considers Russia one of its top foreign policy priorities.

Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi emphasized that the visit affirms the strong commitment of both sides in maintaining and developing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries to become increasingly deeper, more substantial and more effective. This is also an opportunity for the leaders of the two countries to meet, discuss and agree on important issues and strategic directions for the future, more clearly defining key areas of cooperation, from economics, trade, energy, science and technology to education, culture and national defense and security.

The visit is also an opportunity for the two sides to review, discuss and find solutions to existing problems and obstacles in bilateral cooperation, exchange on the progress of implementing important cooperation projects between the two countries in the fields of energy, industry, etc., as well as propose measures to expand cooperation in potential fields, creating momentum to promote bilateral relations.

Looking back over the past 75 years, Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi affirmed that Vietnam is facing a new era, an era of national growth. Russia has also experienced nearly a quarter of a century with many important events, overcoming many challenges and achieving great goals, creating a solid foundation for continued development.

At this important historical threshold, the leaders and people of the two countries have chosen to continue strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, expanding substantive and effective cooperation in all areas, and striving to raise the level of economic and trade cooperation to match the political relationship. This meets the aspirations and development interests of both countries in the new period.

With the political will of the senior leaders and the unwavering determination of the people of the two countries, 2025 will certainly be the beginning of a new development phase of the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/phat-trien-manh-me-quan-he-doi-tac-chien-luoc-toan-dien-viet-nam-nga-post1007094.vnp