General Secretary To Lam's visit: A special milestone in Vietnam - Russia relations

Science & Life/Knowledge & Life Newspaper would like to summarize the content of the press interview with Mr. Bezdetko Gennady Stepanovich, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Vietnam.

- On May 9, 2025, Russia celebrates the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. What from the war still resonates today?

The Great Patriotic War was the bloodiest and most devastating war in human history. The victory had epochal significance for many countries and peoples around the world, played a role in completely changing the political situation and laying the foundations for the contemporary world order.

The world knows that the main burden of this war fell on the shoulders of the people of the former Soviet Union. According to official figures, by the summer of 1944, about 75% of the total number of German divisions were fighting on the Soviet-German front, and most of the weapons and equipment of Nazi Germany and its allies were concentrated on this front.

Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Bezdetko. Photo: Tra Khanh

To achieve victory, the Soviet Union made extraordinary efforts and paid an unprecedented price: huge material losses, many cities and villages were destroyed and more than 27 million Soviet citizens died. Just imagine how big these numbers are!

However, thanks to the courage and heroism of soldiers, officers, guerrillas and underground fighters, and the selfless labor of citizens in the rear, fascism was stopped and suffered a crushing defeat. The world was saved from the genocide of fascism.

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam paid an official visit to the Russian Federation and attended the military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War at Red Square, Moscow, on May 9, 2025 at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin.

- What is the significance of the defeat of fascism in Russia and the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War in the current geopolitical context?

The lessons of the Great Patriotic War affirm that world peace and comprehensive development can only be ensured on the basis of respect for the right of states to pursue an independent and sovereign policy based on traditional values. This is especially necessary in the current geopolitical context, when the world is facing unprecedented challenges and threats, international relations are being fundamentally restructured, and a new world order is being formed.

We would like to stress that Russia has always supported the multipolar world order, the sovereign equality of states and the balance of interests. The UN Charter must be implemented not selectively, but in its entirety and in its entirety.

- General Secretary To Lam's visit to Russia and attendance at the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War shows the comprehensive strategic partnership between Moscow and Hanoi?

The visit to Russia by the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam is an important event in the program of bilateral contacts at the highest level this year.

We consider the presence of General Secretary To Lam at the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War as evidence of the unity of views of Russia and Vietnam on many current world issues.

The two countries have a long-standing friendly relationship and mutually beneficial cooperation, both in the fields of defense and security. The comprehensive strategic partnership at the highest level is the basis for our decision to invite units of the Vietnam People's Army to participate in the parade on Red Square.

In 2025, the two countries will have many special events to celebrate important and memorable holidays in history such as: 75 years of establishing Russia-Vietnam diplomatic relations, 80 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and 50 years of liberating the South and reunifying Vietnam.

“Vietnam always attaches special importance to the cooperative relationship with the Russian Federation; considering it a common and invaluable asset of the two countries and peoples of Vietnam and Russia. On that basis, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the Russian Federation will be increasingly consolidated and developed across many key areas of economics-trade, defense-security, energy, education-training, science-technology, tourism and people-to-people exchange,” Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized at a reception hosted by Ambassador Bezdetko Gennady Stepanovich on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War.

Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Vietnam in June 2024. Photo: VNA

- Will the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Russia-Vietnam diplomatic relations promote the relationship between the two countries to new heights?

I believe that Vietnam-Russia cooperation will further develop in the fields of trade and investment, defense and security, education and training, science and technology, and humanitarian aid.

Cooperation in the economic field is of particular importance. In the face of complicated developments, instability in the world situation and strict sanctions, bilateral trade turnover has grown steadily, such as: 20.2% in 2024.

We consider Vietnam both an important partner of Russian economic organizations and a “bridge” to promote cooperation with other Southeast Asian countries.

Fuel and energy are key areas of cooperation between the two countries. Over the past four decades, the Vietsovpetro Joint Venture has affirmed its stature. Within the framework of the project, Russia's Zarubezhneft and Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation have successfully exploited oil and gas fields on the continental shelf of Vietnam. The counterpart company Rusvietpetro is operating in the Nenets Autonomous Region of the Russian Federation. Gazprom - the world's leading natural gas producer, also invests in Vietnam.

We encourage the development of bilateral cooperation projects in the field of modern technological industrial production. Typically, GAZ Group - a famous Russian automobile brand headquartered in Da Nang, provides Vietnamese customers with suitable products, some of which have been exported to neighboring countries. The Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) is implementing a project to build a Nuclear Science and Technology Center in Vietnam. This group is also ready to join hands with Vietnam to participate in the construction of a nuclear power plant.

The "Immortal Regiment" parade marking the 80th anniversary of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War (May 9, 1945 - May 9, 2025) took place in Hanoi on May 6, 2025. Photo: Russian Embassy

Traditionally, Russia and Vietnam have closely cooperated in the fields of science and technology, education and training. The training of Vietnamese citizens at universities using the federal budget within the quota of 1,000 people allocated annually by the Russian Government has demonstrated the success of this area of ​​cooperation.

I see great prospects for cooperation in tourism development. Vietnamese resorts are very popular with Russians. Vietnam creates favorable conditions by granting visa-free stay to Russian citizens for up to 45 days.

Flight frequency between the two countries is improving. At the end of March 2025, after a three-year suspension, Russian airline Aeroflot resumed direct flights from Moscow to Cam Ranh. A direct flight from Hanoi to Moscow will be launched in the near future.

Russia and Vietnam have a solid foundation to further strengthen the equal and mutually beneficial cooperation relationship, towards the common goal of construction and development. We wish to cooperate closely with Vietnam to exploit the great potential that still has much room for development, for the benefit of the people of both countries, for peace and common prosperity.

86 soldiers are officers, students, and professional soldiers who are exemplary in quality, capacity, health, and physique from the Army Officer School 1 and a number of agencies, units, and representatives of officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army participating in the parade to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War (May 9, 1945 - May 9, 2025) in the Russian Federation.

General Phan Van Giang said that this is an opportunity for us to pay tribute to the great contributions and sacrifices of revolutionary soldiers in the great patriotic war of the Soviet people, including Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers. At the same time, it affirms the foreign policy of our Party and State and the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/chuyen-tham-cua-tong-bi-thu-to-lam-moc-dac-biet-trong-quan-he-viet-nga-post270360.html