Vietnam makes up important part of Russia’s “Look East”: diplomat
Vietnam is an important part in Russia’s “Look East” policy, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son told Saigon Giai Phong daily ahead of President Tran Dai Quang’s visit to Russia.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son (Source: Laodong)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is an important part in Russia’s “LookEast” policy, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son told Saigon GiaiPhong daily ahead of President Tran Dai Quang’s visit to Russia.
The diplomat noted that Vietnam is a reliable and traditional partner ofRussia. Vietnam, located in an important maritime route connecting Russia andAsia-Pacific, was also the first to sign a trade agreement with the EurasianEconomic Community (EAEC) of which Russia is a member.
Vietnam and Russia set up their strategic partnership in 2001 andupgraded it to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2012.
The two sides have worked together at multilateral forums such as theUnited Nations and within ASEAN-Russia cooperation, contributing to maintainingpeace, stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.
Russia has supported Vietnam’s hosting of the APEC 2017, said theambassador.
Vietnam and Russia have also supported settling territorial disputes inthe East Sea through peaceful means based on international law, including the 1982UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the spirit of the Declarationon the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, aiming to build a Code of Conduct inthe East Sea.
Both sides agreed that members of the UNCLOS must abide by theirobligations stated in the document.
At the same time, Vietnam and Russia have developed defence-security andmilitary technology cooperation, said Ambassador Son who added that economiccollaboration between the two countries has been strengthened with four keypillars of trade, investment, oil and gas and electricity.
Nearly 60,000 Vietnamese people reside in Russia, along with some 3,000Vietnamese studying in Russia.
Regarding benefits from the free trade agreement between Vietnam and theEAEC, which became effective on October 5, 2016, the diplomatic said that thedeal enabled Vietnam to access a 183 million-strong market with total GDP ofnearly 2.2 trillion USD.
Along with favourable conditions created by the agreement, the RussianGovernment has offered preferential policies to Vietnamese firms, especially inagriculture and consumer goods production.
The deal has pushed two-way trade between Vietnam and Russia to 1.37billion USD since October 2016, a rise of 27.2 percent year on year, with a 28.4percent rise in Vietnam’s exports.
In terms of education, Son asserted that Russia is a good choice forVietnamese students who wish to study abroad. Russia is Vietnam’s largestscholarship provider and every eyear, the Russian Government increases thenumber of scholarships for Vietnam.
Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Son said President Tran Dai Quang’s upcomingvisit will reinforce mutual trust, marking progress in bilateral cooperation.-VNA
The 9th Vietnam-Russia Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy-Defence-Security and the political consultation at deputy minister level between the Foreign Ministries took place in Hanoi on June 14.
President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse will pay official visits to Russia and Belarus from June 26 – July 1, the Foreign Ministry announced on June 20.
The Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association has launched a writing contest on Vietnam-Russia friendship on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Russia’s October Revolution (November 7, 1917).
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son (Source: Laodong) 
