As part of his visit to Vietnam, Russian President, Vladimir Putin met with Vietnamese leadership including new President To Lam and Communist Party General Secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong.
Putin told Lam that “strengthening a comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam is always one of our priorities.”
At the start of his talks with Lam, Putin invited him to Victory Day celebrations in Moscow next year.
Lam and Putin witnessed the exchange of 11 agreements and memorandums of understanding, including deals on oil and gas.
Following the talks, Putin and Vietnamese President To Lam adopted a Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership within the 30th anniversary of the implementation of the Russian-Vietnamese Treaty on the Foundation of Friendly Relations.
The Russian leader said that this document “supports the principles of the Russian-Vietnamese comprehensive strategic partnership and announces new benchmarks for joint work in the future.”
“Russia attaches great importance to issues of further strengthening the traditionally friendly Russian-Vietnamese comprehensive relations of strategic partnership, and these relations continue to develop progressively in the spirit of equality, mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests.”
Vladimir Putin
He recalled that the two countries are united by common history.
In his meeting with the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong, Putin iterated that Russia is determined to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam.
“We are ready to continue active joint work on a wide range of topics, including economic, scientific and technical spheres, defense, security and humanitarian relations,” Putin said.
He emphasized that Vietnam has been and remains Russia’s reliable friend and partner.
“Relations between our countries have been tested by time, including during the years of the Vietnamese people’s heroic battles for independence,” Putin stated.
He added that these relations were based on trust and mutual assistance, which makes it possible to solve the most difficult tasks and steadily move forward.
Putin also pointed out that it is “symbolic” that the timing of his visit to Vietnam coincided with a “significant date – the 30th anniversary of the signing of the treaty on the basics of friendly relations, which established the legal framework for their further development.”
Russia’s Support For Vietnam’s Independence Struggle Remembered
President To Lam told Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Russian-Vietnamese talks that Vietnam remembers Russia’s support for Vietnam in its struggle for independence.
“We always remember with gratitude the selfless help and support that the Russian people extended to Vietnam in our struggle for independence,” To Lam said.
“Vietnam has pursued an independent foreign policy of peace as well as a diversified and multi-vectored policy, but we attach importance to developing the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia and consider Russia as one of Vietnam’s foreign policy priorities.”
To Lam
After negotiations with his Russian counterpart, the Vietnamese President said that Vietnam and Russia intend to expand cooperation in the field of clean energy use.
“We will also increase the efficiency of cooperation projects in the energy and gas sectors in order to create favorable conditions our companies’ activities,” he said.
He added, “We also agreed to explore the possibility of increasing cooperation in the field of new energy sources and clean energy in order to promote green transformation and sustainable development.”
In turn, Vladimir Putin said that Vietnam and Russia will improve the efficiency of energy projects.
“We will also increase the efficiency of cooperation on projects in the energy and gas sectors to create favorable conditions for our companies’ activities,” he said.
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