Vietnam-Russia: Reliable partners in a changing world

This year marks many important anniversaries and events in the history of our two countries as well as in bilateral relations. Among them, the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Russia-Vietnam diplomatic relations is a particularly prominent event.

Russian President Putin paid a state visit to Vietnam in June 2024. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Stand firm in the face of every challenge

The formation and development of bilateral relations are closely linked to the heroic years of the Vietnamese people's struggle for freedom and independence, against foreign invasion, as well as in the post-war peacebuilding process. Over a long and glorious journey, the Russia-Vietnam relationship has stood the test of time and continues to develop in new historical conditions.

Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Bezdetko

As the legitimate successor to the Soviet Union, Russia has continued the tradition of friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam based on valuable experience accumulated over many decades.

In 1994, the two countries signed a Treaty on the Basic Principles of Friendly Relations. In 2001, during the first visit to Vietnam by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two countries signed a Declaration on Strategic Partnership. By 2012, the Russia-Vietnam strategic partnership had been upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

At present, Russia and Vietnam maintain a trustworthy political dialogue at the highest and highest levels, and closely cooperate in the fields of foreign affairs, economy, defense and security, education and human resources training, science and technology, culture and tourism. The legal basis of bilateral relations is increasingly complete, with more than 90 international and intergovernmental documents signed.

During the visit to Vietnam by Russian President Vladimir Putin (June 19-20, 2024) and the visit to the Russian Federation by General Secretary To Lam to attend activities commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow, the two sides reached many important agreements to promote cooperation in promising areas.

In the Joint Statement, the leaders of the two countries highly appreciated the contributions of many generations of leaders as well as the people of Russia and Vietnam to consolidating the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation; at the same time, affirmed their determination to continue strengthening bilateral relations for the benefit of the people of the two countries.

The Russia-Vietnam Intergovernmental Commission on Economic-Trade and Scientific-Technical Cooperation is effectively coordinating the activities of relevant ministries and branches in specialized fields. The 26th session of the Commission is scheduled to be held in Vietnam in the fourth quarter of this year.

Among the key areas of cooperation, energy remains a traditional area of ​​cooperation. Joint oil and gas projects in the territory of the Russian Federation and Vietnam with the participation of Zarubezhneft, Gazprom and the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) are being successfully implemented. The agenda also includes promoting cooperation in the field of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and renewable energy.

General Secretary To Lam held talks with President Vladimir Putin during his official visit to the Russian Federation and to attend the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in May 2025. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

According to Vietnam’s statistics, bilateral trade turnover increased by more than a quarter last year. We hope that this positive trend will be maintained, and at the same time, we will gradually realize the goal set by the leaders of the two countries to perfect the bilateral payment mechanism and increase trade turnover between the two countries to 15 billion USD by 2030. We welcome the effective operation of the Vietnam-Russia Joint Venture Bank.

We also expect to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation within the framework of the Free Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Vietnam signed on May 29, 2015. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of this Agreement. This is the first free trade agreement between the EAEU and a foreign country, a clear demonstration of trust in cooperation with Vietnam.

According to the Eurasian Economic Commission, trade turnover between EAEU member countries and Vietnam has grown significantly. Of which, with Armenia it increased 61 times, with Belarus it increased 34%, with Kazakhstan it increased 4.2 times, with Kyrgyzstan it increased 14.5 times and with Russia it increased 1.3 times.

Our two countries aim to strengthen cooperation in the field of science and technology, first of all within the framework of the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center, as well as in the field of health, with a focus on innovative directions such as nuclear medicine.

We are ready to continue training Vietnamese students at leading Russian universities in practical majors, within the framework of the quota of 1,000 scholarships provided by the Government of the Russian Federation. We also make concerted efforts to promote the popularization of Russian and Vietnamese languages, and promote cultural and tourism exchanges.

A special place in the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries is occupied by cooperation between the two countries' Foreign Ministries. The diplomatic agencies of Russia and Vietnam are effectively coordinating in implementing agreements reached at the highest and highest levels, and promoting common views on urgent global and regional issues.

Russia and Vietnam consistently support peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world, persistently adhere to the fundamental principles of international law, including the goals and principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, with a focus on the central role of the United Nations in resolving global issues.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the BRICS Summit in Brazil, July 2025. (Source: BRICS)

Effective multilateral coordination

The high level of development of bilateral relations allows the two countries to coordinate effectively within the framework of key multilateral mechanisms, aiming to promote the values ​​of fairness, equality and respect for the interests of all countries in the world. One of the significant results of this cooperation is that the two countries have reached an agreement on the content of the first United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, which is expected to be signed in Hanoi in October this year.

We welcome Vietnam as a partner country of BRICS. BRICS is constantly expanding and consolidating its prestige and influence in the international arena. BRICS member countries have great potential in politics, economics, science and technology and human resources.

Representing different continents, development models, civilizations and cultures, BRICS members are still united by common values ​​and perspectives, based on the principles of equality, good neighborliness and mutual respect, and working towards common prosperity and well-being.

We highly appreciate the promotion of the Russia-ASEAN dialogue partnership and Vietnam’s support for the Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and the Association. We believe that strengthening cooperation within the framework of ASEAN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the EAEU and other multilateral mechanisms in the Eurasian space, in the spirit of “integration of integrations”, will not only contribute to building an open Eurasian partnership, an initiative proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2015, but will also create conditions for moving towards the formation of a fair and cohesive continental security architecture.

We believe that the Russian Federation and Vietnam have all the conditions to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in many areas to serve the common construction and development. We are optimistic about the prospects for the development of bilateral relations and are ready to work together to exploit the great potential between the two countries, for the benefit of the people of both countries, as well as for peace and prosperity in the region and the world.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-nga-nhung-doi-tac-tin-cay-trong-the-gioi-doi-thay-325802.html