Strengthening Vietnam-Russia ties

This will be the first official visit by a foreign leader to Vietnam in 2025 and underscores the robust relationship between the two nations.

The visit follows a series of high-level exchanges in 2024, including:

A state visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Vietnam in June.

A phone call between Communist Party General Secretary To Lam and President Putin in August.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s participation in the expanded BRICS Summit in October.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s visit to Russia in September.

The visit also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Treaty on Basic Principles of Vietnam-Russia Friendship (1994) and the upcoming 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations in January 2025.

Expanding strategic partnerships

During a press briefing in December 2024, Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Bezdetko emphasized the enduring significance of Vietnam-Russia ties, nurtured through shared struggles for freedom and independence. Today, these ties continue to thrive across multiple sectors.

Vietnam is Russia’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, while Russia ranks among Vietnam’s top five European trading partners. Key areas of collaboration include energy, science and technology, education, and training.

In the first 11 months of 2024, bilateral trade reached $4.15 billion.

The Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation has been instrumental in fostering collaboration. Both sides have drafted a Comprehensive Cooperation Plan for Vietnam-Russia Development until 2030, focusing on: Trade and investment, Industry and energy, Transportation and IT, Science, education, and communication.

Russia has increased its annual scholarships for Vietnamese students to around 1,000, with over 5,000 Vietnamese students currently studying in Russia.

Local partnerships have flourished, with approximately 20 cooperative agreements between Vietnamese and Russian provinces, particularly between cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Moscow, and Saint Petersburg.

Tran Thuong