President Vladimir Putin made the statement during a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Moscow on March 25 as part of the latter’s official visit to Russia.

Putin welcomed PM Chinh and his  delegation, while affirming that Vietnam is always a sincere friend and an important partner of Russia in the Asia-Pacific, and stressed the importance of further deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

He conveyed greetings and best wishes to Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong and other senior Vietnamese leaders, and congratulated Vietnam on the successful organisation of the 14th National Party Congress, as well as the elections of the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels. He expressed confidence that, with the strategic orientations set out at the Congress, Vietnam would continue to develop strongly, achieve its development goals for 2030 and 2045, and further enhance its role and standing internationally.

President Putin described the visit by PM Chinh, the first key Vietnamese leader to visit Russia after the 14th Party Congress, as highly significant for maintaining and promoting bilateral cooperation. He expressed high regard and appreciation for PM Chinh’s contributions to bilateral relations, describing him as a close friend of Russia and a trusted comrade.

The Vietnamese Government chief thanked President Putin, Russian leaders and the Russian people for the warm reception extended to the Vietnamese delegation, and conveyed greetings from Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong and other senior Vietnamese leaders.

He hailed the support provided by the former Soviet Union and today’s Russian Federation to Vietnam in its struggle for independence and reunification, as well as in national development and defence.

He affirmed that Vietnam consistently values its traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Russia and seeks to further deepen bilateral ties, make effective use of each side’s potential and advantages, and beef up  cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, for the development goals of each country and the interests of both nations’ people, while contributing to peace, cooperation and development regionally and globally.

PM Chinh noted that President Vladimir Putin has made important contributions to the traditional friendship between the two countries and to the development of bilateral ties. He welcomed the positive momentum in relations, particularly following the official visit to Russia by Party General Secretary To Lam in May 2025 and the phone talks between the two leaders after the conclusion of the 14th National Party Congress, which helped set strategic directions and create new impetus for cooperation.

In a friendly and trustful atmosphere, the two leaders exchanged views on their respective socio-economic development situations and strategies.

The two leaders said that bilateral cooperation has developed positively across areas, with regular exchanges at all levels, especially at the high level. Two-way trade has grown, people-to-people exchanges have continued, and tourism and education links have expanded, with more Russian tourists visiting Vietnam and more Vietnamese students studying in Russia.

Building on this, the two sides held in-depth discussions on priorities and directions for future cooperation, aiming to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which both sides regard as a long-term strategic priority.

They agreed to continue strengthening political trust through exchanges at all levels across Party, State, Government, National Assembly, locality-to-locality and business channels, as well as people-to-people exchanges; to maintain existing cooperation mechanisms, including the Intergovernmental Committee on economic, trade and scientific-technical cooperation, while studying the establishment of new mechanisms.

Both sides consented to step up cooperation in trade, investment and business linkages, diversify markets and supply chains, and remove  barriers related to institutions, payments and transport, with a view to increasing bilateral trade in a balanced and sustainable manner.

Energy and oil and gas, science and technology, innovation and infrastructure development were identified as key areas for cooperation. President Putin highlighted cooperation in the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant project, noting efforts to conclude negotiations and sign relevant agreements in line with safety, efficiency and international standards.

He said the project would contribute to energy security and sustainable development and instructed the Russian Government to expedite next steps and launch the project, describing it as a new symbol of bilateral ties in the new era.

The two sides supported greater cooperation and investment by energy companies in each other’s territories in line with international law.

They concurred to augment cooperation in defence technology, security and science and technology.

Chinh highlighted Russia’s strengths in fundamental science and advanced technologies and proposed stronger cooperation in areas such as basic science, new and high technologies, biomedicine and aerospace, building on experience from the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Centre.

Host and guest consented to intensify people-to-people exchanges and facilitate travel for citizens of both countries, thereby boosting tourism. President Putin assigned the Russian Foreign Ministry to consider visa exemptions for Vietnamese citizens. They also agreed to increase scholarships for Vietnamese students in Russia.

The two leaders compared notes on regional and international issues of mutual concern and agreed to continue close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums such as the United Nations and ASEAN, contributing to peace, cooperation and development.

On this occasion, PM Chinh, on behalf of Party and State leaders,  respectfully invited President Vladimir Putin to visit Vietnam at a mutually convenient time. President Putin gladly accepted the invitation.

This was the final activity of the Vietnamese Government leader during his official visit to Russia from March 22 to 25 at the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. PM Chinh and his delegation left Moscow later the same day, successfully concluding the visit.

Government leader meets Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association

VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met a delegation from the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Russian War Veterans Association in Moscow on March 25 within his official visit to the Russian Federation.

Vietnamese Government leader meets with Secretary of Russian Security Council

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Sergey Shoigu in Moscow on March 24, as part of his official visit to the European country.