Attending the ceremony were officials from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Friendship Association with Vietnam, representatives of Russian universities, institutes and training centers, and Nguyen Ngoc Binh, charge d’affaires of Vietnam in Russia.

Speaking after the ceremony, Vladimir Nicolasin, an official of the Russia Science Academy, said that he highly valued the cooperative relations with Vietnamese scientists.

Tachiana Leonova of the National Management University expressed her delight at receiving the order. She said Vietnamese students at Russian education centers have always confirmed themselves as citizens of a dynamic Vietnam. They have gained big achievements in study and also provide Russian friends with a better understanding about Vietnamese culture, Ms Leonova said.

To date, thousands of Vietnamese students and researchers are studying in Russian universities and institutes. Many generations of Vietnamese staff and officials were educated and trained in Russia. The nine universities, institutes and training centers that received the friendship orders from the Vietnamese government are those who directly contributed to the development of key staff and officials in Vietnam.