This is the first state visit to Russia by Viet Nam’s Party and State leader since 1991, taking place notably right after the 14th National Party Congress and the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly. The visit aims to affirm and enhance the country’s status and prestige, further build social consensus about Viet Nam’s foreign policy, and strengthen people’s trust in the Party, the State and the country’s renewal process.
Over the past time, Viet Nam-Russia political relations have continued to be consolidated with a high level of trust and have made strong progress. High-level delegation exchanges have taken place regularly, providing impetus for the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Viet Nam and Russia seek to fully tap into their respective strengths to serve the new development phase of each country.
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Party General Secretary To Lam (now Party General Secretary and State President of Viet Nam) holds a restricted meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his official visit to Russia on May 10, 2025 at the Kremlin in Moscow. (Photo: VNA) |
Russia regards Viet Nam as an important partner in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. Bilateral trade has continued to grow positively, reaching USD 3.24 billion in the first seven months of this year, up 12% year on year. In terms of investment, Russia has 223 valid investment projects in Viet Nam with the total registered capital of approximately USD 996.4 million, ranking 28th among 153 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam. Viet Nam has 19 valid investment projects in Russia with the total registered capital of USD 1.64 billion, ranking fourth among 88 countries and territories investing in the country.
Viet Nam and Russia are trusted, natural, and enduring comprehensive strategic partners under all circumstances and conditions. The two sides support each other’s foreign policies of independence, self-reliance, multilateral and diversified relations. They closely coordinate at multilateral forums and international organizations, including the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).
Russia supports Viet Nam’s position on settling disputes in the East Sea (also known as South China Sea) through peaceful means, without the use or threat of force, on the basis of international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), while working toward the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
The two sides have attached importance to promoting cooperation and have achieved results in key areas of strategic significance, such as defense and security, economy and trade, energy, and oil and gas, and science and technology. They are also coordinating to organize a range of activities under the 2026 Cross-Year of Science and Education.
General Secretary and President To Lam’s state visit to Russia is expected to mark a new milestone and bring strategic progress in bilateral cooperation, further deepening strategic trust and the special, steadfast friendship between Viet Nam and Russia. It will also provide an opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on issues of mutual concern, coordinate their positions at international and regional organizations, and promote cooperation in areas where Russia has strengths, including science and technology, education and training, energy and oil and gas.
The two sides are also expected to step up cooperation in culture, high-quality human resource training, labor cooperation, tourism, local-level cooperation, trade and investment, and transport.
The visit will also offer an opportunity for Viet Nam to reaffirm the Party and State’s foreign policy in the new era, as set out in the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress. It will help maximize the role of head-of-state diplomacy in mobilizing and leveraging resources for national development and directly contribute to the goal of achieving double-digit economic growth.
Building on the achievements already made, we are confident that the visit will be a success, further nurturing and strengthening political trust between Viet Nam and Russia and creating a favorable external environment for the country’s new era of development.
The visit will contribute to enhancing Viet Nam’s prestige and status in the region and the world, while strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the Communist Party of Viet Nam and Russia’s ruling party.
Translated by Quynh Oanh