Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership yields impressive results in 2024

At the press conference, Russian Ambassador Bezdetko highlighted the significance of the traditional friendship and trust between the two countries, which were nurtured during the difficult period of the Vietnamese people's struggle for freedom and independence. At present, the mutual relationship continues to see develop successfully across multiple fields.

“I am glad with the positive development of bilateral relations at various levels, including the highest level. In particular, the State visit by Russian President V.V. Putin to Vietnam in June 2024 created important impetus for bilateral cooperation between across multiple aspects,” Ambassador Bezdetko said.

The Ambassador also mentioned the Joint Statement and 15 documents signed during the visit. He stated that these impressive results will lay the foundation for further promoting joint relations moving forward.

He highlighted the significance of the visit to Russia by National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man in September, the third meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee on Cooperation between the State Duma of Russia and the NA of Vietnam which reached an agreement on co-operation between the two legislative bodies.

The Russian diplomat highly appreciated the importance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's participation in the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. The meeting between President Putin and PM Chinh on the sidelines of the Summit took place amid a warm and trusting atmosphere and served as a platform to devise many important orientations for the bilateral relationship.

According to Ambassador Bezdetko, economic collaboration has been constantly developing over recent times, with the bilateral intergovernmental commission on trade – economic and scientific - technical co-operation operating effectively.

The two countries have prepared a draft Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Russia-Vietnam Cooperation until 2030, which includes a roadmap to beef up linkages in trade - investment, industry, energy, transport, information and communication technology, science, and education.

At the press briefing, Viacheslav Kharinov, head of the Russian Trade Representative Office in Vietnam, informed about trade ties between the two countries in specific aspects.

In particular, Kharinov outlined that Russia has priority policies focusing on exports. On May 7, President Putin signed a decree on national goals for development until 2030 with vision towards 2036.

He also highlighted the great potential that exists between the two countries in the fields of logistics, automobile assembly, pharmaceuticals, and high technology.

Along with strengthening political, economic, and trade relations, cultural exchange activities and educational functions between the two countries has always focused on effective programmes launched by the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Vietnam throughout 2024.

V.V Murashkin, director of the Russian Center for Science and Culture, said that the "Russian House" in Vietnam has become a destination for Russian-Vietnamese cultural exchanges to be held through with many attractive schemes such as exhibitions, film screenings, seminars, and courses. Russian language is also maintained across many educational institutions in Vietnam.

Ambassador Bezdetko affirmed that the achieved results clearly demonstrate the common spirit of both nations in strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership, whilst creating favourable conditions for further boosting bilateral ties.

Russia is ready to expand practical co-operation with Vietnam in a multitude of fields, with the diplomat adding his hopes that the traditional co-operation between the two countries will be strengthened on the basis of agreements at the high and highest levels.

At the press conference, Ambassador Bezdetko responded to a number of media questions about co-operation in the field of atomic energy amid Vietnam re-starting the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project.

“The Russian Federation is always ready to co-operate with Vietnam in developing nuclear technology, specifically nuclear energy,” he added.

“We have all the conditions in terms of science, technology and finance, and in recent years, Vietnamese human resources have been sent to Russia to study nuclear power. Roughly 300 people have undergone training in Russia. In the near future, the two sides will continue to cooperate closely to implement this important project, ensuring nuclear safety,” the Ambassador emphasised.

Responding to press questions about plans to launch a broad array of activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of both nations’ diplomatic relations in late January next year, Ambassador Bezdetko said that the two countries' foreign ministries are discussing specific events that both sides will jointly organise, in which they will pay attention to conducting delegation exchanges, press briefings, roundtable conferences, art tours, and cultural and artistic exhibitions between the two countries.

Speaking to the press about the exchange and travel activities of the two countries' people, Ambassador Bezdetko informed that there are currently many Russian citizens living and working in Vietnam.

In line with this, the Russian side is making efforts to increase the number of tourists heading to Vietnam every year. Meanwhile, in Russia there is currently a large Vietnamese community exceeding 100,000 people. Citizens of the two countries regularly travel back and forth.

Realizing the huge demand, Russia’s leadership always tries to create the best conditions to simplify the process related to visa procedures. The two countries are studying a project on a new visa agreement, Ambassador Bezdetko said.

He thanked the Vietnamese Government for easing visa regulations for Russian citizens to Vietnam, such as extending the visa-free stay.

The Russian diplomat said that this would help gradually restore the number of Russian tourists to Vietnam and expressed hope that this number would return to the pre-COVID-19 period at about 600,000 per year.