This is the Russian leader's fifth visit to Vietnam. President Putin visited Vietnam in 2001, 2006, 2013 and 2017.

This visit of the Russian President takes place in the context of the strong development of the Vietnam - Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. Strengthening the strategic partnership with Vietnam is one of the priorities in Russia's foreign policy in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam is one of the countries with a very high level of economic integration. Vietnam has established trade relations with 224 partners and cooperated with more than 500 international organizations, signed more than 90 bilateral trade agreements, about 60 agreements on promotion and mutual protection of investment, and participated in 17 free trade agreements (FTAs).

Vietnam is also one of the fastest growing and most promising digital economies in the region, with an annual growth rate of 38% and is expected to become the second largest digital economy in Southeast Asia by 2025.

Vietnam pursues an independent foreign policy based on self-determination, peace, cooperation, development and international integration. Vietnam's contributions in international forums allow Vietnam to consolidate its position, thereby attracting countries around the world to support Vietnam in ensuring national interests, including human rights and gender equality.

Currently, Vietnam maintains comprehensive strategic partnerships with seven countries: Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, the United States and Australia. During a phone call with the Russian leader, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed that Vietnam highly values ​​the comprehensive strategic partnership with the Russian Federation.

Vietnam - Russia: Traditional relationship

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong once said: “The traditional friendship between Vietnam and the Russian Federation has a long history, founded by President Ho Chi Minh and nurtured by many generations of leaders and people of the two countries. The Vietnamese people will forever be grateful to the Soviet people, including the Russian people, for their sincere, great and effective assistance in the past struggle for national liberation and for their effective cooperation in the cause of national construction and defense today.”

2024 marks 30 years since the signing of the Treaty on the Fundamental Principles of Friendly Relations and 12 years since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation.

Since then, relations between Vietnam and Russia have been continuously strengthened. Bilateral cooperation has developed rapidly. The two countries have a common perception that it is necessary to continue to expand the exchange of views and maintain regular dialogue at all levels, in bilateral and multilateral forums. This allows the two sides to promptly assess the current state of bilateral relations and propose measures for further development, as well as coordinate their positions in the international arena.

In recent years, the leaders of the two countries have visited each other many times. Vietnam is the only country in Southeast Asia that the Russian President has visited 6 times (Mr. Putin 5 times; Mr. Dmitry Medvedev 1 time in 2010). Russia has also welcomed many high-ranking leaders of Vietnam.

The two countries maintain in-depth political dialogue at the highest level, as well as close contact between ministries and sectors. This allows both sides to effectively implement the agreements reached and respond promptly to current challenges.

The two sides have similar views on many international and regional issues, closely coordinate actions and support each other in international organizations and associations such as the United Nations, APEC, ASEM Forum, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asian Countries (CICA)...

Russia supports Vietnam's stance on resolving disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means, without using or threatening force, on the basis of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Declaration on the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and early conclusion of negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

In the context of strengthening and developing political relations between the two countries, characterized by a high level of mutual trust, multifaceted cooperation between the two countries is manifested in areas such as trade, economy, energy, defense and security, education and training, science and technology, culture and humanitarian fields.

Currently, Vietnam is Russia's leading trading partner among ASEAN member countries. Trade turnover between Vietnam and Russia in 2023 will reach 3.6 billion USD, up 2.3% compared to 2022.

Investment cooperation is also being increasingly strengthened. The Russian-Vietnamese high-level working group on priority investment projects is working smoothly, within the framework of the roadmap, it has agreed on a number of joint business initiatives in many areas such as energy, mechanical engineering and agriculture.

One of the “supporting pillars” of the Russia-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership is cooperation in the fuel and energy sector, primarily in oil and gas exploration and production. The two countries’ specialized associations (Gazprom, Zarubezhneft, Rosneft and Petrovietnam) are successfully implementing joint projects in Russia and Vietnam. Both sides are also exploring new areas of joint action, including clean energy and information and communications technology.

Vietnam and Russia also have a long tradition of cooperation in the fields of defense, security, and professional training for Vietnamese soldiers at Russian specialized universities.

In recent years, relations in the field of education and science have been successfully developed. The Russian-Vietnamese Joint Tropical Research and Technology Center is a unique institution in the world. Many of its research and development achievements in the field of materials science and tropical durability, medicine and ecology are of great scientific and applied importance.

Many good relations have been established in the field of education and training. Regular exchanges are carried out in the fields of culture, sports, tourism, facilitating the travel of citizens of the two countries and their legitimate work activities in Russia and Vietnam.

The future ahead

In the coming time, Russia-Vietnam relations may reach a higher level of development. The two sides continue to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations in the context of many difficulties in the world, thanks to taking advantage of the benefits from the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union, especially in areas where the two countries have strengths such as oil and gas, energy, tourism, education, science and technology.

In addition to traditional fields such as electricity, oil and gas, culture, science, and education, Russia is also interested in cooperating with Vietnam in developing new areas of cooperation, mainly fuel and energy complexes such as green energy.

Unique gift from General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to President Putin

The light sculpture "Great Russia" created by artist Bui Van Tu was presented to Russian President Putin after the performance.

A busy day of Russian President Putin in Hanoi

After arriving in Hanoi at 1:45 a.m. on June 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin had important meetings with leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State in the afternoon of the same day.

President Putin thanks the hospitality and warmth of the Vietnamese people

After the solemn welcoming ceremony and successful talks, President To Lam and Russian President Putin met with the press of both countries and the international community.