Viet Nam, Russia issue Joint Communiqué

At the invitation of H.E. Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, H.E. Mr. M. V. Mishustin, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation paid an official visit to Viet Nam from January 14-15, 2025. The visit took place in the context that the two countries preparing for celebration of the 75th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations (January 30, 1950-January 30, 2025).

During his stay in Ha Noi, Prime Minister M. V. Mishustin paid a courtesy call on General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam and President Luong Cuong, held talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and met with Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man. Prime Minister M. V. Mishustin also laid wreath at the Monument for Heroic Martyrs, laid wreath and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister M. V. Mishustin co-chaired a dialogue with business representatives from both countries.

In a warm and friendly atmosphere, the two sides had in-depth discussions on various topics and orientations to promote the Viet Nam-Russia relations across the fields of politics, economics-trade, science-technology and humanities, defense, security, education and training, transport, and tourism among others. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern. Both sides voiced support for strengthening the exchanges through Party and parliament channels, and between ministries, agencies and localities.

The Russian side acknowledged Viet Nam's important achievements in socio-economic development, and its elevated position in the region and the world.

The Vietnamese side highly valued Russia's positive achievements in socio-economic stabilization and development.

Both sides shared the view that the Viet Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership has maintained constant growth momentum on the basis of mutual benefits thanks to regular political exchanges and contacts, particularly at the highest level. The results of the State visit to Viet Nam by President V. Putin (from June 19-20, 2024), the summit meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Russian President V. Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit (on October 24, 2024), as well as the official visit to Russia by Chairman of the National Assembly of Viet Nam Tran Thanh Man (from October 8-10, 2024) have injected strong momentum for the multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides underscored the importance of joint celebration of many major anniversaries of the two countries and in the Viet Nam-Russia relations, including the 75th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations (January 30 1950), the 50th anniversary of the liberation of South Viet Nam and national reunification (April 30, 1975), the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of Russia (May 09, 1945), and the 80th anniversary of Viet Nam's National Day (September 02, 1945).

The two sides discussed and agreed on measures to enhance bilateral trade, including better utilization of the Free Trade Agreement between Viet Nam and the Eurasia Economic Union and its Member States that both sides will mark the 10th anniversary of the signing of the trade pact this year, and to step up the supply of goods to respective markets.

Both sides agreed on the need to develop railway and maritime trade systems, and multimodal freight transport. Both sides acknowledged the significance of studying payment methods for bilateral trade exchanges and other bilateral transactions.

Both sides agreed to continue improving bilateral legal basis to promote cooperation across various fields. Both sides acknowledged the efforts by the Viet Nam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee on economic-trade and scientific and technological cooperation, the ministries and agencies of the two sides so that the two countries could sign cooperation agreements during the visits. Both sides welcomed continued exchanges and negotiations for new cooperation documents in the coming time.

Both sides agreed to continue creating favorable conditions for the implementation of joint oil and gas projects on the continental shelf of Viet Nam and on the territory of Russia, in line with the laws of the two countries and international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Both sides acknowledged that Russia's supply of oil and liquefied natural gas to Viet Nam, along with processed products, and the development of new power projects, including renewable energy projects are promising cooperation directions.

The two sides will continue cooperation in implementing the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Center project in Viet Nam. Russia stands ready to participate in building Viet Nam's national nuclear power industry.

The two sides acknowledged the stable operation of the Russian automotive manufacturer Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod in Da Nang, with a portion of its products exported to neighboring countries.

The two sides agreed to continue full assistance for the Viet Nam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center, a facility that plays an important role in developing bilateral scientific and technological cooperation.

The two sides acknowledged the importance of continued cooperation in the field of education and training, including training Vietnamese citizens at Russian universities within the quotas granted by the Russian Government and the activities of the network of Viet Nam-Russia technical universities; decided to speed up the progress of the project to establish a general education institution teaching Russian language in Ha Noi. The two sides agreed to continue to support the learning and teaching of Russian language in Viet Nam, including utilizing the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute's branch in Ha Noi, while also enhancing and expanding the study and teaching of the Vietnamese language in Russia.

The two reiterated that they attach importance to intensifying healthcare cooperation, including supply of medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, training personnel, nuclear medicine and other areas of mutual interest.

The two sides acknowledged the role of people-to-people exchanges in developing the traditional friendship between Viet Nam and Russia; welcoming the enhancement of humanistic exchanges, regularly organization of national cultural days, artistic performances, film screenings, and other activities to strengthen mutual understanding between the people of the two countries through friendship organizations, media, and social organizations. The two sides voiced support for ongoing efforts to simplify travel procedures for their citizens.

The two sides expressed satisfaction with the resumption of regular and chartered direct flights, which has contributed to increasing tourist flows between the two countries. The two sides shared the view that cooperation to add destinations and increase the number of flights is in line with the travel needs of the people of the both countries. The two sides welcomed their relevant authorities to enhance exchanges to promote transport connectivity and to develop transport system in Viet Nam.

The two sides recognized that local-to-local cooperation remains highly potential and always plays an important role in the Viet Nam-Russia relations, and strengthening local-to-local cooperation will meet the desires and interests of the people of both countries and should be translated into specific cooperation projects.

The two sides opposed the use of unilateral restrictive measures, interference in internal affairs of sovereign states, protectionism, imposition of extraterritorial jurisdiction, violations of the principles and regulations of international law, including the United Nations Charter.

The two sides emphasized the universality and comprehensiveness of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which governs the world's oceans and seas, affirming the need to maintain the integrity of the Convention. The two sides will coordinate to ensure security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation as well as unimpeded trade activities.

The two sides expressed their support for exercising restraint and refraining from the use of force or threat to use force, as well as settling disputes through peaceful means, in accordance with the principles of international law, including the United Nations Charter and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The two sides also expressed their support for full and effective implementation of the 2022 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and welcomed efforts toward conclusion of a substantial and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC)

The two sides expressed their support for formulating a comprehensive and sustainable architecture governing relations among countries in Asia, based on the principles of equality, sovereignty, independence, non-alignment, and international law. The two sides underscored the importance of and support for the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in regional issues and reaffirmed their commitments to the 1976 Treaty on Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

The two sides welcomed the enhancement of exchanges, cooperation and mutual support at multilateral forums, including the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and ASEAN mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum, and the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus, as well as initiatives within these mechanisms aimed at promoting a multipolar, fair, and sustainable world order, on the basis of the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, expanding the space and opportunities for the free and successful development of nations and associations.

The two sides expressed their readiness for mutually beneficial and effective cooperation within the framework of APEC, a leading regional economic cooperation mechanism, focusing on realizing APEC's visions and priorities, settling practical issues, with a particular emphasis on promoting and supporting each other's initiatives, including when Viet Nam assumes the role as the Chair of this forum in 2027.

The two sides underscored the importance of the first ASEAN-Russia Summit held in Kuala Lumpur in 2005 and welcomed the significance of the 20th anniversary of the summit this year. Both sides agreed to further strengthen and deepen the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership, while maintaining effective implementation of the Comprehensive Plan of Action for the ASEAN-Russia Partnership in 2021-2025 period, and preparing for a new action plan for the next five years, as well as a strategic program for trade and investment cooperation between ASEAN and the Russian Federation, with a focus on energy, high-tech industries, digital transformation, and smart cities. The two sides agreed to continue close collaboration at major economic forums in Asia, such as the ASEAN Investment and Business Summit and the Eastern Economic Forum.

The two sides welcomed the enhancement of partnership between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), based on the Memorandum of Understanding on Economic Cooperation signed in 2018 between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2005 between the ASEAN Secretariat and the SCO Secretariat, promoting peace, stability, security, trust, development and prosperity in Eurasian continent.

The Russian side welcomed Viet Nam's active participation in BRICS events in 2024 and expressed its willingness to create favorable conditions for Viet Nam if the country joins BRICS as a partner nation./.

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