Could you please tell us about the importance and significance of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Vietnam this time for the Vietnam - Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as well as in realizing the Joint Statement on the Vision of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries until 2030?

At the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, President of the Russian Federation VV Putin will pay an official visit to Vietnam from June 19 to June 20, 2024. The visit is of great significance, which is to further deepen the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in all fields and elevate it to a new level in the new situation, especially in the context of the two countries' efforts to realize the Joint Statement on the Vision of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to 2030. This visit is not only an important diplomatic event but also demonstrates Russia's respect and commitment to the multifaceted cooperative relationship with Vietnam. At the same time, the visit also demonstrates Vietnam's active implementation of its foreign policy in the spirit of independence, self-reliance, diversification, multilateralization, for the national and ethnic interests, and contributing to peace and stability in the world. This contributes to strengthening friendship and mutual trust, creating a solid foundation for the comprehensive development of bilateral relations in the future.

During the visit, the two countries' leaders will discuss and orient the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership until 2030, more clearly defining key areas of cooperation, from economics, trade, national defense and security, energy, science and technology to education, culture and people-to-people diplomacy. Long-term goals and specific action plans will be set out to ensure the sustainable and effective development of bilateral relations in the future. In addition, this visit is also an opportunity for both sides to sign and implement new cooperation agreements, creating momentum to promote bilateral relations.

President Putin’s visit to Vietnam also sends a strong message of mutual respect between the two countries. This is a clear manifestation of friendship and solidarity, thereby contributing to enhancing the position of both countries in the international arena, for the common interests of both peoples and for peace and stability in the region and the world.

This is also an opportunity for the two countries to discuss regional and international issues of mutual concern, contributing to peace, stability and development of the region and the world.

2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on the Basic Principles of Vietnam-Russia Friendship Relations and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the strategic partnership between the two countries. Could you please assess the highlights of the bilateral relationship over the past time?

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on January 30, 1950, the relationship between Vietnam and the former Soviet Union and current Russia has always been stable over the years and has increasingly developed in depth and breadth in all fields.

Political relations have a high level of trust, through various forms and mechanisms of political cooperation such as regular exchanges of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones, helping the leaders of the two countries exchange information and promptly direct the development of bilateral relations. The two sides have established and effectively implemented many mechanisms such as the Intergovernmental Committee meeting, Strategic Dialogue, and Annual Political Consultation, contributing to enhancing mutual understanding and trust, creating a foundation for promoting all-round cooperation between the two countries. Vietnam and Russia always support and cooperate closely in international and regional organizations such as the United Nations, ASEAN, APEC, ARF, etc.

Economic and trade cooperation has developed positively, with periods of bilateral turnover increasing by 10-15% per year, as a result of the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union. Despite the impact of the unstable situation in the world and the region, trade turnover in 2023 still reached more than 3.6 billion USD. In terms of investment, Russia has nearly 200 projects in Vietnam with a total capital of nearly 1 billion USD. Vietnam's investment in Russia has increased sharply, from only about 100 million in the early 2000s to 3 billion USD in 2023. An important highlight in economic cooperation between the two countries is the strong development in the fields of energy and oil and gas. The two sides have cooperated well and effectively in oil and gas exploration not only on the continental shelf of Vietnam but also in the territory of the Russian Federation with large projects. In addition to the Vietsovpetro joint venture, which is the flagship in oil and gas cooperation, the two sides have other joint ventures that are actively operating in both countries.

Bilateral cooperation in areas such as science and technology, culture, education, tourism, locality... is increasingly expanded, in which cooperation in science and technology and education and 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 with thousands of students studying in Russia every year, including key industries such as energy, oil and gas, and basic sciences.

According to the Ambassador, what is the significance of the cultural factor to the Vietnam-Russia friendship? How has cultural cooperation been promoted in the general flow of cooperation between the two countries, Ambassador?

Throughout the history of cooperation, cultural exchange activities have contributed significantly to the creation of a strong and close relationship between the people of the two countries. Culture helps us better understand each other's customs, practices and lifestyles. Through activities such as cultural festivals, exhibitions and art and music activities, the people of the two countries have the opportunity to approach, explore and appreciate each other's precious cultural heritages. This not only deepens the friendship between the two peoples but also contributes to building a solid foundation for the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia.

Over the years, cultural cooperation between Vietnam and Russia has been strongly promoted. Many cultural exchange programs have been held regularly, creating conditions for artists, researchers and people of the two countries to meet, exchange and learn from each other.

Russia is the market with the fourth largest purchasing power in the world. In recent times, despite facing many difficulties, with the determination and efforts of businesses of both countries, the trade turnover in 2023 still reached an impressive figure. How does the Ambassador assess the potential for economic cooperation between the two countries in the coming time, in new potential areas of cooperation?

In 2012, Vietnam and the Russian Federation established a comprehensive strategic partnership. In 2015, Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union signed a Free Trade Agreement (VN-EAEU FTA), facilitating the development of economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. After the VN-EAEU FTA took effect in October 2016, bilateral trade between Vietnam and Russia grew rapidly, reaching a turnover of 5.5 billion USD in 2021, an increase of 90% compared to 2016.

However, since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the complicated political and economic situation in the world has negatively affected economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. With the joint efforts of the authorities and the business communities of the two countries, difficulties in transportation, payment, etc. have been gradually resolved, and import and export activities between Vietnam and Russia have clearly recovered. In 2023, two-way trade turnover increased by 3.6% compared to 2022. In the first 5 months of 2024, the import and export turnover of goods between the two countries reached approximately 2 billion USD, an increase of 52% over the same period in 2023. Many of Vietnam's key product groups such as agricultural products, seafood, garments, and machinery and equipment continue to maintain high export growth rates to the Russian market. On the contrary, we also increase the import of essential goods such as coal, fertilizer, chemicals, food, etc. to serve production and business to meet domestic demand and export abroad.

Regarding investment, by the end of May 2024, the Russian Federation had 186 projects in Vietnam with a total investment capital of approximately 1 billion USD; meanwhile, Vietnam had about 25 investment projects in Russia with a total investment capital of about 3 billion USD. Cooperation in the traditional field of oil and gas continued to be maintained and strengthened, with two typical enterprises, Vietsovpetro and Rusvietpetro, continuing to operate effectively. Investment cooperation in other fields such as food processing, automobile manufacturing and assembly, etc. has also gradually developed.

In recent times, Vietnam and Russia have also gradually resumed cooperation in many other areas that were interrupted after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of 2024, the two sides have reopened direct flights between Moscow and Ho Chi Minh City with a frequency of 03 flights/week. Currently, Russia and Vietnam have relaxed visa regulations for each other's citizens. From August 2023, Vietnamese citizens can apply for an e-visa to Russia with a simple and convenient process; meanwhile, from August 15, 2023, Russian tourists can stay in Vietnam for up to 45 days visa-free. These are favorable conditions for businesses of the two countries to recover and promote tourism and trade cooperation in the coming time.

We recommend that businesses of the two countries further strengthen trade promotion activities, participate in specialized fairs and exhibitions in Russia and Vietnam to learn about the market, find customers, and establish business and investment relations.

For many generations, the Vietnamese people and the people of the former Soviet Union and present-day Russia have always had special and rare feelings for each other. So, how should people-to-people exchanges be promoted to “keep the fire” of Vietnam-Russia friendship?

The friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the former Soviet Union and Russia today have been constantly strengthened and nurtured by generations of leaders and people of the two countries.

To "keep the fire" of Vietnam - Russia friendship, promoting people-to-people exchanges is extremely necessary. First of all, it is necessary to promote cultural exchange and communication programs. Exchange activities between generations, especially the young generation of the two countries, need to be organized more regularly and on a larger scale, creating space for generations of people of the two countries to meet, exchange, learn and understand each other, raise awareness of the importance of Vietnam - Russia friendship, contributing to consolidating and deepening the friendship between the two countries and peoples. Regarding education and training cooperation, in the past, the Soviet Union helped Vietnam train nearly 40,000 excellent cadres and experts in many different fields. Currently, Russia continues to support Vietnam in training human resources. Since 2019, Russia has increased the number of scholarships for Vietnam to about 1,000 scholarships/year. Currently, there are about more than 5,000 Vietnamese students studying in Russia. Besides, organizing people-to-people exchange activities through seminars, forums, and social cooperation programs is also very necessary.

According to the Ambassador, what needs to be done to promote and boost cooperation in areas such as education - training and science - technology?

First of all, it is necessary to affirm that the cooperation in science, technology and education and training between the two countries in recent times has been very effective, increasingly diverse and substantial, and is an important foundation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Regarding scientific and technological cooperation, it can be seen that this field not only contributes to socio-economic development, but also creates conditions to improve the capacity and operational efficiency of research and training facilities, improve professional qualifications, and form a network of reliable cooperative partnerships between scientific and technological agencies of the two countries.

To develop scientific and technological cooperation with the Russian Federation in the coming time, the two sides should pay attention to implementing joint research cooperation programs and projects in areas where Russia has strengths and Vietnam has needs such as: life sciences, energy technology, space technology, rational use of environmental resources; basic research, Fintech, artificial intelligence, biomedical field...

The two countries need to have policies and allocate appropriate financial resources to invest in joint research cooperation programs and projects, while at the same time, increasing delegation exchanges, exchanging scientific staff, and connecting cooperation networks between research and training facilities, etc.

Regarding human resource training in the Russian Federation under the Agreement, we need to prioritize sending students to study in the fields of engineering, applied sciences, and financial technology; coordinate with relevant ministries to increase the number of scholarships for medical fields and training in the fields of culture and arts. Every year, the Russian Government grants 1,000 scholarships to Vietnamese citizens to study in Russia. To attract Vietnamese citizens to study in Russia, it is necessary to promote propaganda about Russian education and universities in localities in Vietnam, expand the enrollment target to increase scholarship opportunities for Vietnamese students nationwide.

Thank you very much Ambassador!