Viet Nam-Russia issue Joint Statement

At the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Nguyen Phu Trong, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin paid a State visit to Viet Nam from June 19-20, 2024. The visit took place on the occasion of the 30^th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Fundamental Principles of Friendly Relations between Viet Nam and Russia (June 16, 1994).

In Ha Noi, President Vladimir Putin held talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Nguyen Phu Trong and President To Lam, met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man. President Vladimir Putin also laid wreaths at the Monument to Heroic Martyrs and President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. President To Lam and President Vladimir Putin met with Vietnamese alumni who have studied in Russia.

In a cordial and friendly atmosphere, the two sides engage in broad and in-depth discussions on various issues and orientations to promote the Viet Nam-Russia relations across fields like politics, economy, trade, science and technology and people-to-people connections. Both sides also discuss a wide range of regional and international issues of shared interests in the spirit of trust.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vladimir Putin review the multi-faceted cooperation between Viet Nam and Russia since the two countries signed the Treaty on Fundamental Principles of Friendly Relations between Viet Nam and Russia on June 16, 1994 and the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in 2012.

The Vietnamese side welcomes the outcomes of Russia's Presidential election in March, 2024, recognizing the transparency and objectivity of the election and Putin's re-election reflects the strong support of the Russian people for Russia's policy in which Russia considers advancing cooperation with Viet Nam one of its priorities.

The Vietnamese side gravely condemns the barbaric terrorist incident in Moscow on March 22, 2024, does not accept acts of attacking civillians, and supports Russia in its fight against terrorism and extremism as well as in ensuring its peace and stability.

The Russian side highly values Viet Nam's great achievements gained under the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam led by President Nguyen Phu Trong, contributing to heightening the prestige and position of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the State of Viet Nam on the international arena. The Russian side also expresses the belief that Viet Nam will successfully realize its strategic development goals. President Vladimir Putin congratulates To Lam upon his election as the President of Viet Nam and invites senior Vietnamese leaders to attend the 80^th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War (May 9, 2025).

Based on the outcomes of the visit, Viet Nam and Russia issue the Joint Statement as follows:

1. Viet Nam and Russia continue to consolidate the comprehensive strategic partnership on the basis of friendship and mutual support amid complex international landscape. In 2025, the two countries will celebrate the 75^th founding anniversary of their diplomatic relations, marking a long journey of overcoming challenges and difficulties together

The bilateral ties have stood firm in the face of upheavals, contributing to consolidating peace, stability and security in Asia-Pacific and the world. Thanks to concerted efforts, Viet Nam and Russia have sustained the arc of progress in the multi-faceted cooperation in accordance with the two countries' interests and it has become a valuable asset of the two peoples and a role model of traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Thirty years since the signing of the Treaty on Fundamental Principles of Friendly Relations between Viet Nam and Russia and since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnerhsip in 2012, both sides have gained the following major achievments:

- Political dialogue features high level of trust and mutual understanding. Exchanges and contacts at all levels have been maintained regularly, creating a solid foundation for consolidating and expanding bilateral cooperation. The two sides share close or similar views on many regional and international issues and coordinate effectively at multilateral organizations.

- Viet Nam and Russia have made constant efforts in accelerating economic and trade cooperation, including on the basis of the free trade agreement signed between Viet Nam and the Eurasia Economic Union on May 29, 2015.

- Both sides have continued to consolidate cooperation in such fields like oil and gas, energy, industry, digital technology, transport and agriculture while promoting the great potential in science and technology, education and humanity. Both sides have stepped up local-to-local cooperation, contacts through Party and social organization channels, improved the effectiveness of the currrent cooperation mechanisms, and established new cooperation frameworks if necessary.

2. In order to promote the achievements gained over the past 30 years, both sides affirmed their wish to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership on the basis of the following principles and orientations:

- Consolidating and improving the effectiveness of the comprehensive strategic partnership remains one of the priorities of Viet Nam and Russia, meeting the long-term interests and contributing to national development in each country and to raising the role of each country in the region and the world.

- Viet Nam and Russia build their relations on the basis of mutual trust and principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, the right to equality and self-determination of nations, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, no use or threat to use force, peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. Both sides are resolved to continue close cooperation in all areas and on both bilateral and multilateral aspects.

- Viet Nam and Russia do not form alliance or reach agreements with a third party to take actions that are harmful to each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and fundamental interests. The development of Viet Nam-Russia relations shall not be directed against any third party.

3. Viet Nam and Russia agree to continue cooperation in the following areas:

- Continue substantive high-level political dialogue, striving to effectively implemeent the agreements reached by the two countries' leaders. Improve the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms, establish new cooperation mechanisms, and promptly coordinate in addressing issues arising in bilateral cooperation.

- Speed up contacts through Party and parliamentary channels, continue coordination at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums.

- Defense and security cooperation is of special importance in Viet Nam-Russia relations, which shall not aim at any third party, and it is highly reliable and completely consistent with the principles of international law, contributing to ensuring peace, stability and development in Asia-Pacific and the world as well.

- Agree to consolidate comprehensive cooperation in international information security in accordance with international law and bilateral agreements in order to prevent the use information and communication technology for violating sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as other acts in global cyberspace with the purpose of hindering international peace, security and stability. Continue to improve bilateral legal framework for judicial assistance cooperation related to criminal crimes using information and communication technology.

- Continue to enhance cooperation in response to emergency situations in order to prevent and minimize losses, support affected people and conduct joint rescue drills.

- Further strengthen economic cooperation. Facilitate the expansion of cooperation in trade, investment, finance in line with international law and laws of the two countries in order to accelerate the exchange of goods in a balanced manner, effectively implement the free trade agrement between Viet Nam and members of the Eurasian Economic Union.

- Affirm the important coordinating role of the Viet Nam-Russia Inter-governmental Committee mechanism on ecnomic, trade, scientific and technological cooperation, along with subcommittees and working groups in building and implementing joint cooperation projects and programs. Support the early conclusion and implementation of a master plan for the development of Viet Nam-Russia cooperation until 2030, including the adoption of roadmaps for cooperation in all fields.

- Affirm the need to boost Viet Nam's investment in Russia and Russia's invstment in Viet Nam, in such fields like mineral exploitation and processing, industry, agriculture, machinery manufacturing, and energy. On such basis, both sides agree to step up the formation of a high-level working group on priority investment projects.

- Affirm their resolve to continue cooperation in existing and new oil and gas projects in accordance with each country's law, including Russia's supply and processing of crude oil and liquefied gas for Viet Nam, meeting the strategic interests of both sides. Both sides see cooperation potential in consrtuction and modernization of power facilities

- Support the operation expansion of Viet Nam's oil and gas enterprises in Russia and Russia's oil and gas companies on Viet Nam's continental shelf in line with Vietnamese and Rusian laws, international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

- Explore the potential for nuclear energy cooperation, determine to accelerate the construction of a Nuclear Science and Technology Research Center in Viet Nam.

- Emphasize the need to foster cooperation in mining industry, transport, shipbuilding, machinery manufacturing, and railway modernization.

- Affirm the importance of expanding cooperation in agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry, through enhancing import and export of farm produce and encouraging businesses to establish production facilities in Viet Nam and Russia.

- Support the strategic importance of cooperation in education and training, science and technology, and innovation. From that perspective, welcome the signing of agreement on tertiary education within this visit.

- Support the promotion of research and teaching of Vietnamese in Russia and Russian in Viet Nam, through full utilization of the two countries' educational institutions such as the Puskin Institute and Russian Center of Science and Culture in Ha Noi.

- Assign relevant ministries and agencies to study Russia's initiative on establishment of Russian schools in Ha Noi.

- Support the expansion of Viet Nam-Russia technical universities network to provide university training and organize career guidance activities in Viet Nam.

- Support operations and effectively promote the role of the Viet Nam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center to make the center a model and symbol for bilateral cooperation. Russia will transfer scientific research ship "Professor Gagarinsky" to Viet Nam. Continue to consider technology transfer within the Center's operation framework.

- Welcome the promotion of cooperation in the field of humanities, including expanding exchanges between the two countries' ministries, agencies and localities, regularly organize Cultural Days of the two countries on the basis of reciprocity, maintain contacts between mass media agencies, friendship associations and other social organizations.

- Support the expansion of cooperation to promote the positive agenda of the Viet Nam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in global cyberspace, continue to create favorable conditions for cooperation in the field of journalism, enhance collaboration in preventing false information and unfriendly information campaigns by third parties.

- Continue to promote multi-faceted cooperation in healthcare, including technology transfer and high-quality medical workforce training.

- Affirm the desire to further enhance the exchanges in sports. Viet Nam highly values Russia's hosting of the "Future Olympics" international sports tournament in Kazan for the first time and supports the Russian Federation's organization of the BRICS Games in the spirit of non-discrimination, in accordance with the general principles of the Olympic movement.

- Note with pleasure at the steady growth in the number of Russian tourists to Viet Nam and support further expansion of tourism cooperation, including increasing the number of regular direct flights and charter flights between the two countries, and simplifying travel procedures for citizens of the two countries.

- Continue to discuss immigration issue, create favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to live and work in Russia and Russian citizens to live and work in Viet Nam.

- Affirm the importance of solemn organization of important events in the history of the two countries and Viet Nam-Russia relations in 2025, including the 75^th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations (January 30, 1950), 50^th anniversary of liberation of the South and national unification (April 30, 1975), 80^th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War (May 9, 1945), and 80^th National Day of Viet Nam (September 2, 1945).

4. Promote the objective process of forming a fair and sustainable multipolar world order, based on the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, including respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, the right to national self-determination, non-interference in internal affairs of countries, non-use of force or threat of use of force, and peaceful resolution of disputes

- Recognize rapid changes in the global political and economic landscape, and strengthened global position and potential of Southern countries. Welcome increasingly enhanced role of these countries in international governance.

- Hold that every country has the right to decide for itself the development model, political, economic and social institutions suitable to its conditions and the aspirations of the people. Both sides do not support interference in the internal affairs of countries, the imposition of unilateral embargoes, the application of extraterritorial jurisdiction, the ideological division without international legal basis and not through the United Nations Security Council.

- Affirm the results of the second World War, as stated in the United Nations Charter, oppose all attempts to deny, falsify and distort the second Word War. The two sides affirm the importance of properly educating history, preserving the memory of the struggle against fascism, and resolutely condemn actions that glorify and attempts to revive fascism and militarism.

- Continue to consolidate cooperation within the United Nations framework, including the United Nations General Assembly, do not support the politicization of activities of specialized agencies of the United Nations and other international organizations. Support the coordinating role of the United Nations in ensuring peace, security and sustainable development, as well as improved operational efficiency, democratization and reform of the United Nations. Both sides share close or similar views on many regional and global issues, continue close cooperation at the United Nations and other global multilateral organizations, and support each other's candidacy bids on international organizations and relevant executive agencies.

- Commit to promoting an open, inclusive, transparent and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system, based on the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Express concern about the politicization of international economic relations and fragmentation of global trade, increasing protectionism, and unfair competition.

- Affirm readiness to promote joint efforts of the international community in coping with traditional and non-traditional security challenges, including terrorism, transnational crime, armed conflicts, and production and illegal trading of drugs, territorial disputes, subsersive interventions, climate change, natural disasters, and epidemics. Strive for ensuring information security, food security, as well as effectively implementing the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

- Continue cooperation in the fight against international terrorism and international terrorist financing , taking into account the coordinating role of the United Nations on the basis of strict compliance with regulations and principles of international law, as well as promoting the leading role of countries and competent agencies in this field.

- Support international efforts for arms control, disarment and non-proliferation of arms, including promoting the process to review the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons dated July 1, 1968, as well as within the framework of Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Support consultations between five nuclear powers and member countries of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty to move towards signing the Protocol attached to the Treaty.

- Support the observance and strengthening of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction dated December 16, 1971.

- Affirm the need to kick off multilateral negotiations on the International Convention on Combating Bioligical and Chemical Terrorist Attacks at the Disarment Conference to respond to the risk of biological and chemical terrorism.

- Persistently pursue the goal of building a world free of chemical weapons, express concern about the politicization of the activities of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Affirm the importance of full implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, Use and Destruction of Chemnical Weapons dated November 13, 1993, which is an important tool in the field of disarment and non-proliferation of weapons.

- Express concern about the risk of an arm race in outer space, emphasize the need to comply with the use of outer space for peaceful purposes only, support the acceleration of negotiations on the Treaty on Preventing the Deployment of Weapons in Outer Space, support and promote initiatives and commitments on non-preemptive deployment of weapons in space

- Accelerate cooperation to ensure information and communication technology security, stand ready to cooperate in responding to threats in cyberspace, including those threats related to artificial intelligence in information and communication technology, support the establishment of a global cyberspace governance framework that is multilateral, democratic and transparent on the basis of ensuring information security and safety for national Internet networks.

- Acknowledge the key role of the United Nations in discussing international information security issues. Believe it is necessary to develop international legal regulations on cyberspace management. The parties support the United Nations to soon develop an comprehensive Convention on preventing the use of information and communication technology for criminal purposes, and strengthen cooperation in this field.

- Continue to respond to climate change, affirm the commitment to the goals, 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. Underline the importance of enhancing technology transfer and financial support to implement the above efforts.

- Convinced that, in accordance with the fundamental principle of international law regarding the equality between States, it is necessary to respect international obligation relating to sovereign immunity and sovereign property immunity.

- Continue cooperation in protection and promotion of human rights on the basis of equality and mutual respect, in accordance with the United Nations Charters, the provisions of international law and national laws of Viet Nam and Russia. Coordinate closely to fight the trend of politicizing human rights, using human rights issues to interfere in internal affairs of each country.

- Believe that it is necessary to further consolidate UNESCO's potential as an global intergovernmental humanitarian forum, promote the maintenance of professional dialogue at this forum to achieve consensus among the member states and promote the common agenda.

- Russia highly values Viet Nam's balanced and objective stance on the Ukraine issue, which requires settlement of disputes and disagreements by peaceful means in line with international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter, taking into account the legitimate interests of relevant parties, for peace, stability and development in the region and the world; welcomes Viet Nam's readiness to join international efforts with the participation of relevant parties to seek a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Ukraine issue.

- The Russian side welcomes Viet Nam's participation in the Foreign Ministerial Meeting of BRICS countries and Southern and Eastern countries from June 10-11, 2024 in Nizhny Novgorod. Continue to strengthen cooperation between BRICS countries and developing countries, including Viet Nam.

- Agree on the necessity to strengthen common regional efforts in building an equitable, indivisible, comprehensive, open, and inclusive security and cooperation architecture in Asia-Pacific on the basis of international law, including the principles of not using or threatening to use force, peacefully resolving conflicts, and not interfering in each other's internal affairs. Both sides oppose the division of the Asia-Pacific regional architecture with the central role of ASEAN as such division will generate negative impact on the expansion and enhancement of dialogue in the region.

- Affirm the universality and integrity of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which serves as the legal foundation for all activities at sea and ocean and plays a leading role in developing cooperation at national, regional and international levels, emphasize the need to maintain the integrity of the Convention.

- Coordinate in ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation as well as unimpeded commercial activities; support restraint, avoidance of using force or threatening to use force, and resolution of disputes between relevant parties by peaceful means in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as according to standards and practices recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization.

- Support full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) issued in 2022 and welcome the negotiation process for early conclusion of a an efficient and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

- Support the consolidation of the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the architecture in Asia-Pacific through upholding the values and principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), participate in ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum, and ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

- Foster cooperation within ASEAN-Russia Consultation of the High Representatives for Security Issues, enhance cooperation in information security related to ASEAN-Russia relations, as well as within ASEAN-Russia dialogue on information and communication technology security.

- Continue to enhance and deepen ASEAN-Russia strategic partnership, accelerate cooperation on the basis of the ASEAN-Russia Comprehensive Plan of Action for 2021-2025 and determine to draft a similar document for the following five years.

- Strengthen regional economic connectivity and implement regional connectivity initiatives, including Asia-Europe Partnership Project, and explore economic cooperation potential between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic. Continue to promote cooperation between ASEAN, the Eurasian Economic Forum, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

- Continue coordination within the frameworks of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum and regional inter-parliamentary forums such as ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Assembly, Asia-Pacific Inter-parliamentary Forum, Asian Parliamentary Assembly in order to improve the role of these mechanisms for peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia. Enhance cooperation with Mekong sub-region countries across fields.

- Russia supports and commits to close collaboration with Viet Nam as the latter will host the APEC Year 2027.

- Share the wish to consolidate peace and stability in the Middle East, oppose interference into internal affairs of the countries in the region, express commitment to a comprehensive, fair and long-term solution to the Palestine issue on the basis of respect for relevant international law.

Viet Nam and Russia express their belief that the effective realization of the above cooperation orientations and coordination at regional and international forums and organizations will contribute to consolidating and enhancing bilateral cooperation in a practical manner, cementing the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, meeting the long-term interests of the two nations' people, and for peace, security and sustainable development in Asia-Pacifica in particular and the world in general.

***

President Vladimir Putin expressed thanks to General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Nguyen Phu Trong and other senior Vietnamese leaders for their hospitality, which indicates high trust, traditional friendship and special affections between leaders and people of the two countries.

President Vladimir Putin invites General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other senior leaders of Viet Nam to visit Russia at a convenient time. The Vietnamese side accepted the invitation with pleasure.

For reference only