Joint Statement on major orientations for Viet Nam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

At the invitation of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam paid an official visit to the Russian Federation and attend the military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, from May 8-11. The visit took place in the context that the two countries celebrate major historical events, including the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Viet Nam-Russia diplomatic relations (January 30, 1950-January 30, 2025); the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South of Viet Nam and national reunification (May 30, 1975-May 30, 2025); 80th anniversary of Russia's Victory Day (May 9, 1945-May 9, 2025); and 80th anniversary of the National Day of Viet Nam (September 2, 1945-September 2, 2025).

General Secretary To Lam had a retreat and held talks with President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; met with Prime Minister Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin, Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko, Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Viktorovich Volodin, Chairman of the United Russia Party (URP) and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev, Assistant to the President of Russia and Chairman of the Maritime Board Nikolai Platonovich Patrushev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Gennady Andreyevich Zyuganov, and Chairman of "A Just Russia – Patriots – For Truth" Party S. M. Mironov.

General Secretary To Lam laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the President Ho Chi Minh Statue in the Ho Chi Minh Square and at the memorial stele of General Secretary Le Duan in the Le Duan Square; delivered a speech at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA); hosted a receptions for representatives from the Association of Russian Veterans and the Russia-Viet Nam Friendship Association; met with Russian citizens who worked in Viet Nam, leaders of several Russian localities and major enterprises.

All the meetings and receptions took place in a friendly, sincere and trustworthy atmosphere, which is typical of the bilateral relations. The Vietnamese and Russian leaders engaged in deep, comprehensive and substantial discussions on ways to create momentum for the strong development of the Viet Nam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

General Secretary To Lam spoke highly of the great achievements gained by the Russian Federation under the leadership of President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, particularly in socio-economic development and improvement of the Russian Federation's role and position on the international arena.

President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin congratulated Viet Nam on successful implementation of the large-scale administration reform to ensure growth and promote intensive and extensive international integration for the benefits of the Vietnamese people.

Based on the outcomes of the visit, Viet Nam and Russia issued a Joint Statement on major orientations for the Viet Nam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the new period as follows:

Achievements of 75 years of the Viet Nam-Russia relations

1. Over the past 75 years, thanks to the efforts by generations of the two countries' leaders and people, deep political trust, mutual respect and understanding, the relationship between Viet Nam and the Russian Federation has played an important role in the two countries' foreign policies, contributing to protecting national interests and advancing socio-economic development in each country.

2. Despite historical changes, the relationship between Viet Nam and the Russian Federation has stood firmly, contributing to consolidating security and stable development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. Thanks to both sides' efforts, the two countries elevated bilateral ties to Strategic Partnership on the occasion of the official visit to Viet Nam by President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in March 2001 and to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the occasion of the State visit to Russia by Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang in July 2012. The bilateral relationship is developing positively in accordance with the two countries' interests and becomes a valuable asset and a model of traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

3. After 75 years of diplomatic relations, the two sides gained comprehensive achievements, including:

- Political dialogue features high level of trust and deep understanding through the regular exchange of delegations and contacts at all levels, especially high-level ones, creating solid foundation for further consolidating and enhancing bilateral relations across all areas.

- Defense-security cooperation is the traditional cooperation domain and one of the major pillars of the Viet Nam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and has been promoted on the basis of mutual trust, in accordance with international law, for peace and stability in the region and the world.

- Despite complex global context, bilateral economic-trade cooperation, has been constantly promoted through numerous joint mehanisms and documents, including the free trade agreement signed on May 29, 2015 between Viet Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union.

- Energy-oil and gas cooperation is the spotlight and the symbol of effective cooperation between the two countries, spearheaded by Vietsovpetro in Viet Nam and Rusvietpetro in Russia.

- Cooperation in education-training and science-technology features dynamic development, bringing about many positive outcomes. The Joint Viet Nam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center is one of the brightspots of effective cooperation in favor of socio-economic development in each country.

- Both sides have paid due attention to promoting people-to-people exchanges on the basis of the traditional friendship between the two nations.

- The two sides have maintained close viewpoints on many regional and international issues, effective coordination and mutual support within the frameworks of international organizations and multilateral forums.

4. The achievements of 75 years of Viet Nam-Russia cooperation serve as the solid foundations and the driving force for the two sides to consolidate, expand and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a practical and effective manner in the new cooperation phase.

Major orientations for bilateral ties

5. Based on the achievements gained over the past 75 years, both sides are resolved to utilize the existing potentials, advantages and opportunities of bilateral cooperation, preserve and consolidate the tradition of friendship, and bring the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to new height in terms of substance.

6. The two countries underlined the need to continue to strengthen regular and substantive political dialogue at the highest level to timely inform each other about the process of implementing high-level agreements reached by the two countries' senior leaders. Both sides affirmed to regularly improve the effectiveness of the existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, especially the Intergovernmental committee for economic-trade and scientific-technological cooperation, defense strategic dialogue, strategic dialogue, while promoting business contacts, establishing new dialogue mechanisms, and timely addressing barriers in bilateral cooperation. Both sides expressed their desire to expand relations between political parties, between leaders of legislative bodies, between the National Assembly of Viet Nam and the State Duma, between committees and parliamentary friendship groups of the two parliaments; and continue coordination at regional and international parliamentary forums.

7. The two sides affirmed that defense-security cooperation will remain a key pillar of the overall Viet Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. Both sides emphasized the need to boost defense-security cooperation with high level of trust and effectiveness in accordance with the requirements of the current context, affirming that cooperation in this domain does not aim at any third country and shall be proceeded in accordance with the principles and regulations of international law, contributing to ensuring peace and sustainable development in Asia-Pacific and the word.

The two sides emphasized cooperation in the field of international information security, in accordance with international law and the bilateral agreements and treaties, including the Agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the field of ensuring international information security signed on September 6, 2018, to prevent the use of information and communication technology for the purpose of violating sovereignty, violating territorial integrity, as well as other acts in global cyberspace that aim to hinder peace, security and stability of the two countries.

Both sides affirmed their determination to create favorable conditions to advance cooperation in ensuring biosafety, including the establishment of a specialized legal basis.

Both sides affirmed their desire to perfect bilateral legal foundation in the field of judicial assistance related to criminal offenses using information and communication technology. The leaders of the two countries expressed their willingness to continue to strengthen cooperation to promptly respond to emergency situations to prevent and minimize damage, support victims, and conduct joint drills and training between rescue agencies.

8. Both sides underlined the need to make the most of potentials and opportunities to promote economic-trade cooperation, first of all in trade, investment, finance and credit, in line with international law and legislation of the two countries, ensuring trade balance and diversifying export products that are not competitive in each other's markets. The two sides voiced support for negotiations between the Eurasian Economic Union and Viet Nam to increase exports and remove technical barriers in bilateral trade.

Both sides agreed to continue close coordination within the framework of the Viet Nam-Russia Intergovernmental committee for economic-trade and scientific-technological cooperation, together with subcommittees and working groups to promptly develop and implement joint cooperation projects and programs, including the Viet Nam-Russia Cooperation Development Master Plan until 2030 to improve the effectiveness of economic-trade, investment and financial cooperation on the basis of taking into account the interests of both sides.

Both sides underlined the need to expand and diversify investments, create favorable conditions for their businesses to promote direct cooperation and implement projects in mineral exploitation and processing, industry, agriculture, energy, science and technology, digital transformation, and information technology.

9. Both sides agreed to intensify cooperation in energy and oil and gas industry and to ensure energy safety through improving the effectiveness of existing energy-oil and gas projects and promote new projects in accordance with laws and strategic interests of each country, including Russia's supply and processing of crude oil and liquefied natural gas for Viet Nam. The two sides are willing to study the possibility of building new and modernizing existing power facilities. The leaders of the two countries voiced support for the creation of favorable conditions for the expansion of operations of Vietnamese oil and gas enterprises in the Russian Federation and Russian oil and gas enterprises on the continental shelf of Viet Nam, in accordance with the laws of Viet Nam, the Russian Federation and international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Both sides affirmed the importance of accelerating the project to build a Nuclear Science and Technology Center in Viet Nam as well as training Vietnamese students at educational institutions in Russia in the fields related to the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. Both sides emphasized the need to boost cooperation in renewable and clean energy development. Both sides agreed to expedite negotiations and signing of intergovernmental agreements on construction of nuclear power plants in Viet Nam, using advanced technology and strictly complying with regulations on nuclear and radiation safety regulations, and for socio-economic development.

10. Both countries agreed to cement cooperation in the fields of mining industry, transport, shipbuilding and machinery manufacturing, railway modernization, expansion of transport corridors between the two countries to promote trade and investment. The two sides acknowledged the importance of expanding cooperation in the fields of agriculture, fisheries and forestry, including increasing the import and export of agricultural products and bringing agricultural products to each other's markets, as well as encouraging enterprises to participate in establishing joint production ventures.

11. Both sides affirmed to work together to consolidate cooperation in science and technology, education and training, and high-quality human resource development in favor of their development.

The two sides underlined the need to improve the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms in the fields of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation; promote programs and projects on research cooperation in the two countries' priority areas; agreed to take 2026 as the Year of scientific and educational cooperation.

In order to continue developing the Viet Nam – Russia Joint Tropical Science and Technology Research Center (Tropical Center), the two sides agreed to support activities, strengthen potential, and ensure scientific research activities of Vietnamese and Russian scientists at the Tropical Center at regional and international levels. Both sides welcomed the completion of procedures for the transfer of the scientific research vessel "Professor Gagarinsky" to Viet Nam; agreed to promote technology transfer within the framework of the Tropical Center's activities.

Both sides support the enhancement of training of highly qualified human resources, expansion of the activities of the Viet Nam-Russia Technical University Network, the Viet Nam-Russia University Network and the Viet Nam-Russia Economic University Network, and the development of relations between universities in general. The Russian side expressed its willingness to support Viet Nam in effectively using the number of scholarships granted to Viet Nam in the majors necessary for Viet Nam's economic development.

Both sides agreed to promote research, promotion and teaching of Vietnamese language in Russia and Russian language in Viet Nam, including making full use of the potential of educational institutions of the two countries; welcomed the establishment of the joint educational institution "A. S. Pushkin Center" through the reorganization of the A. S. Pushkin Russian Language Institute and agreed to promote the early construction of the Viet Nam Cultural Center in Russia and the completion of the management and operation mechanism of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Ha Noi, as well as promote the establishment of a Russian educational institution in Viet Nam invested, built and managed by the Russian Government in accordance with the laws of the two countries.

12. Both sides affirmed their readiness to support and expand coordination to promote the positive agenda for the Viet Nam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the global information space, continue to facilitate cooperation in the field of journalism, and strengthen coordination to prevent disinformation and unfriendly information campaigns by third parties.

13. Both sides welcomed the expansion of cooperation between ministries, sectors and localities; promotion of cultural exchanges; regular organization of Cultural Days of the two countries on the basis of reciprocity; maintenance of contacts between news agencies, archives, friendship associations and other social organizations; further strengthening of humanitarian cooperation. The two sides support the preservation of national identity, cultural and civilizational diversity, and the conservation of traditional values; support the further expansion of tourism cooperation through increasing the number of regular direct flights and charter flights between the two countries, as well as simplifying travel procedures for citizens of the two countries.

14. he Vietnamese side announced its readiness to promote cooperation in the field of healthcare, including training of medical personnel and scientific research in the medical field, as well as exchanging content on the recognition of Certificates for pharmaceuticals used in medicine issued by the Russian Federation and countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, in accordance with Vietnamese law and international treaties to which Viet Nam is a signatory.

15. The two sides emphasized the great and positive contributions of the Vietnamese community in Russia and the Russian community in Viet Nam to maintaining and further developing the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. The two sides affirmed their willingness to continue discussing immigration issues, creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to live, work and study in Russia and for Russian citizens in Viet Nam.

16. The two sides support for the formation of a fair and sustainable multipolar world order, on the basis of countries fully and inseparably complying with widely recognized rules and principles to expand opportunities for countries and organizations to develop freely and successfully, and to implement international cooperation that is mutually beneficial, fair and respectful.

17. The two sides agreed to affirm that every country has the right to self-determine its development model, political, economic and social institutions in accordance with its national conditions and the aspirations of its people. The two sides do not support the imposition of unilateral sanctions that are inconsistent with international law and not approved by the United Nations Security Council.

18. The two sides support efforts to build a security architecture on the Eurasian continent based on the principles of equality and indivisibility in order to ensure peace, stability and development of all countries on the continent. To achieve this goal, the two sides call for strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation through dialogue and coordinated actions.

19. The two sides consistently affirmed the results of World War II, as stated in the United Nations Charter; opposed to any attempts to distort and falsify the history of World War II; affirmed the importance of correct historical education, preserving the memory of the struggle against fascism, and resolutely condemned acts of glorifying and attempting to revive fascism and militarism.

20. Both sides agreed to continue to consolidate cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, including at the United Nations General Assembly, not to support the politicization of the activities of specialized agencies of the United Nations and other international organizations. The two sides support the central coordinating role of the United Nations in ensuring peace, security and sustainable development; support the improvement of operational efficiency, as well as the democratization and reform of the United Nations.

Both sides affirmed to continue close cooperation in the United Nations and other multilateral international organizations, and support each other's candidacy for international organizations and relevant executive bodies.

21. The two sides affirmed their readiness to promote joint efforts of the international community to respond to traditional and non-traditional security challenges, including terrorism, transnational crimes, armed conflicts, illegal drug production and trafficking, territorial disputes, climate change, natural disasters, and epidemics; make efforts to ensure information security, food security, as well as implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

22. Both sides agreed to promote cooperation in ensuring information and communication technology security, stand ready to cooperate in responding to risks in this field, including those related to artificial intelligence (AI) as part of information and communication technology, support a multilateral, democratic and transparent global cyberspace governance system on the basis of ensuring information security and safety for national internet networks; promote the central role of the United Nations in discussing international information security issues and global governance of AI in the civil field; support the development of an international legal regime on cyberspace management and welcome Viet Nam to host the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime in Ha Noi in 2025 and support efforts for the Convention to enter into force as soon as possible.

23. The two sides will continue to develop cooperation in the field of combating international terrorism and the financing of international terrorism, taking into account the central coordinating role of the United Nations on the basis of strictly complying with the provisions and principles of international law, as well as promoting the strengthening of the leading role of countries and competent authorities in this field.

24. Both sides support international efforts on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, building a world free of weapons of mass destruction and safe for all; stress the need to prevent the arms race in outer space and the need to use outer space for peaceful purposes, support the initiation of negotiations on an internationally binding document on the basis of the Treaty on the Prevention of the Deployment of Weapons in Outer Space and the Use or Threat of the Use of Force against Outer Space Objects, as well as support the promotion of initiatives on political commitments not to deploy weapons in outer space.

25. The two sides affirmed to continue implementing measures to respond to climate change, commit to the objectives, principles and main contents of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change dated May 9, 1992 and the Paris Agreement dated December 12, 2015; emphasized the importance of increasing technology transfer and financial support to implement the above efforts.

26. The two sides will continue to cooperate in protecting and promoting human rights on the basis of equality and mutual respect, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, the provisions of international law and the national laws of Viet Nam and the Russian Federation; closely coordinate to combat the trend of politicizing human rights and using human rights issues to interfere in the internal affairs of each country.

27. The two sides agreed that it is necessary to strengthen the joint efforts to build in Asia-Pacific an inclusive, open and transparent structure of equal, indivisible security and cooperation based on international law, including the principles of non-use or threat of use of force, peaceful settlement of disputes, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. The two sides oppose the division of the Asia-Pacific regional structure with the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which would negatively impact the expansion and enhancement of dialogue in the region.

28. The two sides affirmed the universality and integrity of the 1982 UNCLOS, which is the legal framework for all activities at sea and in the ocean and plays a key role in developing cooperation at the national, regional and international levels, emphasizing the need to maintain the integrity of the Convention. Both sides agreed to coordinate to ensure security, safety, freedom of navigation, aviation and trade, support restraint, not use force or threat to use force and resolve disputes by peaceful means in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

The Russian Federation supports the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and welcomes efforts to contribute to creating a favorable environment for the negotiation process of an effective, substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

29. The Russian Federation supports ASEAN's central role in the regional architecture in the Asia-Pacific region, upholds the values and principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia dated February 24, 1976. Viet Nam and Russia actively participate, build and coordinate actions in ASEAN-centered cooperation mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus, and continue to support initiatives put forward by countries within the framework of these mechanisms.

Both sides agreed to strengthen and deepen the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership, promote comprehensive, substantive and mutually beneficial cooperation, including in areas where both sides have strengths and potential such as information and communication technology, antiterrorism and transnational crime combat, science and technology, education, training, human resource development among others. Both sides also agreed to promote the implementation of the Comprehensive Action Plan for the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership for the 2021-2025 period and soon develop and approve a similar document for the 2026-2030 period.

30. The two sides support the enhancement of regional economic connectivity and the implementation of inter-regional connectivity initiatives, including the Greater Eurasian Partnership project, as well as exploring the potential for economic cooperation between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Union; and continue to promote cooperation between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

31. Both sides continue to cooperate within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum inter-regional parliamentary mechanisms (ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, Asian Parliamentary Assembly) in order to enhance the role of these cooperation mechanisms for peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia; strengthen cooperation with Mekong sub-region countries in the fields of economy, sustainable development and response to non-traditional security challenges.

The two sides intend to expand constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation within APEC as a key economic mechanism in the Asia-Pacific, operating on a non-politicized and non-discriminatory basis with a focus on promoting and supporting common initiatives, including during Viet Nam's APEC Chairmanship in 2027.

32. Russia highly appreciates Viet Nam's balanced and objective stance on the Ukraine issue, according to which it is necessary to resolve disputes and disagreements by peaceful means in accordance with international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter with the fullness, integrity and inseparability of those principles, taking into account the legitimate interests of the parties concerned, for peace, stability and development in the region and the world; welcomes Viet Nam's readiness to participate in international efforts with the participation of relevant parties to seek a sustainable peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict.

33. The two sides said that the official visit of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam to the Russian Federation and his attendance at the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War is of utmost importance, marking a new historical milestone in the relationship between Viet Nam and the Russian Federation.

Conclusion

Viet Nam and the Russian Federation believe that the effective implementation of the major orientations for the bilateral ties and coordination of actions on the international arena as stated in this Joint Statement will strengthen the traditional friendship, create a strong new impetus for the development and elevation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Viet Nam and the Russian Federation in the new historical period, for the development and prosperity of the two countries, meeting the long-term interests of the two peoples, for peace, security and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world in general.

General Secretary To Lam thanked the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, the leaders and people of Russia for the warm welcome given to the General Secretary and the high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam, and invited the President of the Russian Federation to visit Viet Nam again. The President of the Russian Federation respectfully thanked the invitation./.

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