Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Viet Nam from June 19-20 is expected to create a momentum for the bilateral ties to develop to a new height, according to scholars.
Mr. Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations
Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) noted that since Viet Nam and Russia (formerly known as the Soviet Union) established their diplomatic relations in 1950, the two countries have gained many achievements in their partnership in all fields from politics, diplomacy and defence-security to economy-trade-investment, science-technology, education, and especially people-to-people diplomacy.
Son held that the relationship between Viet Nam and the former Soviet Union in the past and the current Viet Nam-Russia relations, including people-to-people ties, have overcome many challenges and been nurtured and reinforced by generations of people of the two nations.
The VUFO President said that important milestones in the history of relations between the two countries have laid a solid foundation for the diplomatic activities of the people of Viet Nam and Russia today.
In Viet Nam, there are many people who love the former Soviet Union and Russia nowadays, reflecting the time-tested relations painstakingly nurtured by generations of leaders and people of the two countries, he said.
The people-to-people diplomacy between the Vietnamese and Russian people is not only about the cooperation between the Viet Nam-Russia and Russia-Viet Nam Friendship Associations, but also the collaboration between the VUFO and many local organisations of Viet Nam with their Russian peers.
Viet Nam’s friendship orders are awarded to two vice presidents of the Russia-Viet Nam Friendship Association, Regina Bundarina and Vladimir Ruvimov at a ceremony in Moscow on May 23. (Photo: VNA)
Currently, in political and diplomatic activities of high-ranking Vietnamese delegations to Russia, there are meetings with people’s organisations of Russia, and the Vietnamese community living, studying and working in the country.
The VUFO leader also mentioned new cooperation development, including the signing of a new cooperation agreement between the Viet Nam-Russia Friendship Association with the Herzen University of Russia in promoting people-to-people exchange, popularising and promoting Russian culture and language in Viet Nam and Vietnamese language and culture in Russia.
In the coming time, the VUFO will establish new cooperation relations with other reputable universities of Russia such as the St. Petersburg University, Moscow State Institute of International Relations, and M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, he said.
Son expressed his hope that similar events will continue to take place in the future, including during the upcoming visit to Viet Nam by President Putin.
He also showed his optimism about the bright future of the ties between Viet Nam and Russia in the people diplomacy channel when the two sides are heading to the 75th founding anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2025.
The VUFO President revealed that the union is discussing with Russian partners the organisation of the first Viet Nam-Russia People Forum in 2025, which is expected to be held annually latter on in Viet Nam or Russia, providing chances for the two sides to promote exchanges to reinforce the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two nations’ people, and creating new steps in the bilateral cooperation in many fields.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Dang Phat, Vice President and General Secretary of the Viet Nam – Russia Friendship Association, said that President Putin’s upcoming state visit to Viet Nam is of significance in three aspects.
First, Viet Nam is the only Southeast Asian country to welcome Russian Presidents six times, including the upcoming visit of President Putin.
President Putin had been to Viet Nam four times, including two official visits in 2001 and 2013 and two times when he attended APEC high-level meetings in Hanoi and Da Nang in 2006 and 2017 respectively. In 2010, President Dmitry Medvedev made an official visit to Viet Nam. These visited showed that the Russian leaders have treasured the relationship with Viet Nam.
Second, Phat emphasised, President Putin’s upcoming visit to Viet Nam will take place at the beginning of his new term, which demonstrates the importance that Russia and the leader personally attach to Viet Nam.
Phat added that on March 31, 2023, President Putin signed a decree adopting Russia’s new foreign policy concept. Currently, Russia’s foreign policy is still following this strategically significant document and Viet Nam is still one of the priorities in Russia’s foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific region.
Third, President Putin’s visit takes place on the occasion when Viet Nam and Russia are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the signing of the ‘Treaty on Principles of Friendly Relations between the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Russian Federation’ (June 16, 1994 – 2024) – a fundamental document to develop the relations between the two countries in new historical conditions after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
In that context, the visit by the top Russian leader to Viet Nam is expected to set a new milestone and create a new momentum for the bilateral relations. During the visit, the two countries are expected to have agreements and take the next steps in the new period.
Besides the three aspects above, Phat said that President Putin’s visit is also an opportunity to promote and highlight the traditional friendship, cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries that have been tested by time.
Phat said that the Viet Nam-Russia Friendship Association and Russia-Viet Nam Friendship Association have coordinated with other partners in Russia to implement creative, diverse and practical activities that attracted many people, especially younger generations.
The two associations organised seminars on the role of people-to-people diplomacy in the development of Viet Nam – Russia relations. They have also held the annual international children’s painting contest “I draw Viet Nam – I draw Russia” which has created a playground for students from both countries to exchange and learn about each other’s country and people. The associations have also coordinated with partners to implement language teaching programmes and popularise Russian and Vietnamese culture in each country.
Over the past years, the bilateral relations have been developing well, quickly, and comprehensively. The mutual understanding and political trust have been enhanced through high-level visits and exchanges.
The CPV’s cooperation with major political parties of Russia, including United Russia, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, and A Just Russia – For Truth, has also been growing strongly. Cooperation between the two governments and parliaments has also been promoted.
Vietnam was the first country to sign a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), of which Russia is a member. It is the largest trading partner of Russia in Southeast Asia while Russia is one of Vietnam’s top five trading partners in Europe. The two sides are also implementing investment projects in each other’s markets, including in the areas where Russia has strengths such as energy, science -technology, and education – training.
They have also carried out various forms of cooperation in defence and security.
Collaboration in the fields of education – training and science – technology continues to be maintained. There are about 5,000 Vietnamese students in Russia at present. Cultural, sport and tourism ties have also been actively promoted with annual culture days held rotationally.
Regarding locality-to-locality connections, 20 pairs of Vietnamese and Russian localities have formed twinned relationships. The 60,000-strong Vietnamese community in Russia are contributing much to the traditional friendship.
Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, said that overall, the two countries’ relationship has been developing comprehensively and strongly, bringing practical benefits to their people for the sake of peace, stability, and cooperation in the region and the world.
During the visit, senior leaders of Vietnam, President Putin, and the high-ranking delegation of Russia will discuss the situation in each country and international issues of mutual concern such as the maintenance of peace, cooperation and development; the settlement of disputes; and the implementation of important frameworks such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). They will also devise orientations to promote all-round partnerships in the coming time.
The visit reflects Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, and diversification and multilateralisation of external relations, Trung added.
He went on to say that the visit also helps affirm Vietnam’s position and prestige, along with the consistent foreign policy issued at the 13th National Party Congress. It also aims to promote the pioneering role of diplomacy in creating and maintaining peace and mobilising resources for national development.
The trip, which takes place shortly after President Putin begins his new term, demonstrates Russia and the leader’s high evaluation of Vietnam’s potential, position and prestige after 40 years of Doi moi (Renewal). It also shows the visiting leader’s respect for the CPV’s leadership and General Secretary Trong, who has significantly contributed to the bilateral ties.
With the two countries’ traditional friendship, their people’s strong support and the achievements obtained so far, President Putin’s visit is an important occasion for elevating the bilateral relations, capitalise on both sides’ potential and advantages, and set forth new cooperation orientations to realise their common goals, benefit the two nations’ people, and actively contribute to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world at large./.
Source: VUFO, VNA