According to Ambassador Bezdetko, regular and substantive political dialogue at all levels, particularly at the highest level, is a decisive factor in consolidating and advancing bilateral relations. Such dialogue enables the two sides, in a constructive and trusting spirit, to “compare views on current issues on the international and bilateral agendas.”
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Russian Ambassador to Viet Nam Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko |
The ambassador noted that 2026 has seen a series of visits by senior leaders from both countries. Vietnamese officials visiting Russia have included Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who made an official visit in March; Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, who attended the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit in June; Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, Special Envoy of General Secretary To Lam, who visited in February; Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc, who attended the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in June; and Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan, who attended the 11th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September. Meanwhile, numerous high-level Russian delegations led by senior officials from parliament, local governments, ministries and federal agencies, scientific and educational institutions, and trade and industry associations have visited Viet Nam.
“We view General Secretary and President To Lam’s visit to the Russian Federation as an important milestone in the development of the Russia-Viet Nam comprehensive strategic partnership. We expect the two sides to hold substantive discussions on the entire bilateral agenda, identify new areas for long-term cooperation, and make concrete decisions to further strengthen bilateral ties,” Ambassador Bezdetko said.
Economic, trade and investment cooperation, he noted, is a key area for effectively tapping the potential of bilateral ties. Their development was identified as a fundamental priority in the Joint Statement on the major directions of the Russia-Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the new phase of cooperation, adopted by the two countries’ leaders in May 2025 during General Secretary To Lam’s official visit to Russia and attendance at the military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The two countries also signed a Master Plan through 2030 during Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s official visit to Viet Nam in January 2025.
Ambassador Bezdetko expressed confidence that stronger economic ties serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples. Viet Nam is a dynamically developing country with a favorable geographic location, abundant human resources, and a growing role as a manufacturing and logistics hub in Southeast Asia. Russia, meanwhile, possesses advanced technologies and unique capabilities in energy, industry, transportation, scientific research and resources. “These factors create favorable conditions for long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation,” the ambassador emphasized.
Noting that energy cooperation remains an important pillar of bilateral relations, with the fuel and energy sector traditionally ranking among the two countries’ priority areas, Vietsovpetro, the joint venture that has operated on Viet Nam’s continental shelf since the 1980s, is a prominent example of effective bilateral cooperation. The two sides are studying the possibility of supplying Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Viet Nam and developing the necessary production infrastructure.
There is also substantial potential for cooperation in machinery manufacturing, processing industries, transportation, shipbuilding, agriculture, fisheries, digital technology, pharmaceuticals, health care and tourism. Cooperation in science and technology and innovation has a long history and strong tradition, with the Viet Nam-Russia Tropical Centre serving as a notable example. Artificial intelligence and information security are also among the priority areas for cooperation. According to Ambassador Bezdetko, amid the current geopolitical environment, pooling resources and exchanging experience in strategic sectors is an urgent requirement for both countries.
Translated by Tran Hoai