This sincere sentiment, built on mutual trust and understanding, has become a lasting bond that ties the two nations together and strengthens the foundation of the Vietnam - Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.
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Delegates at the Vietnam - Russia People’s Forum |
On June 30, 1923, Nguyen Ai Quoc (President Ho Chi Minh) arrived in Petrograd (now Saint Petersburg), marking the beginning of a historic bond that guided Vietnam’s revolutionary path and brought the two nations closer together.
During the most challenging period of Vietnam’s history, when the young Democratic Republic of Vietnam faced the struggle for survival in the resistance war against the French colonialists, the Soviet Union became one of the first countries to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam on January 30, 1950. That courageous act broke the siege and isolation and became a great source of encouragement creating momentum for Vietnam to achieve decisive victories both on the battlefield and in diplomacy. From that foundation, the sincere and effective assistance of the Soviet people became an inseparable part of Vietnam’s struggle for national defense.
Friendship between the two nations continued to shine during peacetime and reconstruction. With the help of Russian experts, Vietnam, once an underdeveloped agricultural country, built modern industries. Projects such as the Thang Long Bridge and Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant stand as enduring symbols of industrialization and of the friendship between the two countries. Cooperation in oil and gas, led by Vietsovpetro and later Rusvietpetro, has become a key pillar, bringing strategic benefits to both countries.
Today, that cooperative spirit continues to thrive across various fields. Vietnamese enterprises such as TH Group, with its US$2.7 billion investment project in Russia, not only contribute to the host country’s economic development but also add new chapters to the long story of success, becoming a symbol of the comprehensive, substantial, and in-depth cooperation between the two nations.
Amidst today’s complex international landscape, both Vietnam and Russia face growing challenges. Geopolitical competition among major powers is intensifying, and conflicts continue to create both traditional and non-traditional security risks. In this context, the vital role of people-to-people diplomacy as a bridge that fosters friendship, strengthens understanding, and contributes effectively to bilateral cooperation programs and international relations.
Phan Anh Son, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), shared that friendship organizations serve as a special bridge, helping reinforce the social foundation of bilateral relations and ensure that Vietnam - Russia friendship becomes deeply rooted in the hearts of both peoples.
According to President Phan Anh Son, VUFO has coordinated with relevant agencies from both countries to organize the Vietnam - Russia People’s Forum, creating a mechanism for effective dialogue to strengthen mutual trust and understanding. The forum provides an opportunity to look back on the shared history of bilateral relations, reaffirm fundamental values of solidarity and mutual support, and explore ways to deepen cooperation.
Translated by Tran Hoai