To Lam’s visits to Russia and France carry strategic significance

General Secretary and President To Lam is set to pay a state visit to Russia and an official visit to France, where he will attend the International Space Summit, from September 7 to 12 at the invitations of Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Viet Nam-Russia ties expected to gain fresh impetus

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang said the state visit will be the first by Viet Nam's top Party and State leader to Russia since 1991.

The visit demonstrates the consistent, continuous and high priority that the Vietnamese Party and State attach to the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, while reaffirming Viet Nam's independent, self-reliant and resilient foreign policy.

The top leaders of the two countries are expected to engage in extensive discussions on strategic issues, chart a long-term vision for bilateral ties, and create a new milestone and political impetus for comprehensively advancing the Viet Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

The visit is also expected to further consolidate political trust and promote leader-level diplomacy through regular high-level exchanges between the two countries.

Both sides are expected to seek breakthroughs in traditional areas of cooperation, particularly oil and gas and energy, including nuclear power, while making economic, trade and investment cooperation, infrastructure connectivity and development new drivers of bilateral ties.

Viet Nam and Russia are also expected to explore stronger air, maritime and rail connectivity and encourage businesses from both countries to expand investment and participate in projects in each other's markets.

Greater cooperation in science and technology, innovation and high-quality human-resource training is also expected to be promoted.

To further strengthen the social and humanitarian foundations of bilateral relations, the two sides will encourage the teaching of Vietnamese and Russian and expand exchanges among students, lecturers, artists and other groups.

Viet Nam-France ties set for further development

To Lam's visit to France will be his second official visit to the country and the second time Viet Nam's top Party and State leader has attended an international event hosted by France.

Unlike his previous visit to France, which was made to attend the Francophonie Summit in October 2024, this year's event will be the world's first summit at the head-of-state level dedicated to outer space.

The visit will reaffirm Viet Nam's importance attached to its comprehensive strategic partnership with France and is expected to help the two countries strengthen their role as strategic gateways for each other in the EU and ASEAN.

It will provide an important opportunity for the two sides to consolidate political trust, establish a long-term vision for bilateral relations, and translate the comprehensive strategic partnership into concrete programs, projects and results, beginning with the effective implementation of the 2026-2028 Action Plan.

Viet Nam and France will also seek fresh momentum for economic, trade and investment cooperation, while promoting science and technology, innovation and digital transformation as new drivers of bilateral ties.

The two leaders are expected to set strategic directions for sustainable development in areas such as new energy, green transition, climate change response, transport and infrastructure, defense and security, and education and training.

The visit will inject new momentum into traditional areas of cooperation, including culture, healthcare, justice, agriculture and cooperation between localities.

Viet Nam to contribute to shaping global space governance

At the multilateral level, To Lam's participation in the International Space Summit will demonstrate Viet Nam's development vision and proactive approach to international integration.

It will also represent the highest-level implementation of the Party's major policies and orientations on foreign affairs, international integration, and the development of science, technology and innovation.

Viet Nam's participation in the summit would provide an opportunity for the country to engage at an early stage in shaping rules, standards and global governance mechanisms for emerging areas of outer-space activity, including space-monitoring systems, frequency management and space traffic.

The summit is also expected to create opportunities for Viet Nam to establish substantive contacts and expand cooperation with international partners in the space sector./.