Vietnam and Kalmykia boost cooperation
VOV.VN - Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi and Head of the Republic of Kalmykia Batu Khasikov exchanged measures to increase cooperation between Vietnam and the Russian republic during their meeting in Moscow on February 4.
During their meeting at the headquarters of the Vietnamese Embassy in Moscow, the two sides exchanged New Year and Lunar New Year greetings. Although located in Europe, Kalmykia has a rich Eastern cultural heritage, with Buddhism as the national religion.
Khoi noted that Buddhism, along with other religions, is also flourishing in Vietnam. He thanked the leadership of Kalmykia for inviting Vietnam to the upcoming international Buddhism forum 2025 in the Russian republic, saying this would be an opportunity for exchanges not only among Buddhists and Buddhist scholars but also for showcasing other shared cultural features, such as traditional martial arts, and exploring cooperation opportunities in fields like Buddhist tourism and Buddhist education.
Khasikov for his part agreed with Khoi’s views and said he hopes the upcoming Buddhist forum will serve as a bridge for Kalmykia to expand multifaceted cooperation.
Although Kalmykia’s Buddhist traditions differ from those in Vietnam, the republic is open to all Buddhist schools of thought, he emphasized.
According to the head of state, Kalmykia also has significant potential for tourism development. It ranks seventh in Russia in terms of the fastest-growing tourist arrivals and is now focusing on strengthening its tourism infrastructure.
Another promising area for cooperation is education. Kalmykia’s federal universities excel in fields such as agriculture, animal husbandry, genetics, and breeding.
Kalmykia is ready to welcome investors in rice cultivation, alongside other potential fields such as like oil, gas, and metals, said Khasikov
Both sides agreed to support and promote the participation of a Vietnamese delegation in the upcoming Buddhist Forum and explore cooperation opportunities in areas of mutual interest.
Kalmykia is a republic within the Russian Federation, covering an area of over 76,000 km² with a population of 275,000. It is the only Buddhist republic in Europe, with ethnic Kalmyks of Mongolian origin who follow Buddhism.
