This is Putin’s 5th visit to Vietnam since March 2001, and it will open a new stage of development for the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, Vietnamese President To Lam said, praising the good progress of bilateral ties in all sectors, and expressed the hope that cooperation between both nations in the sectors of security, defense, science and technology, culture, education, sports and people-to-people exchange will continue to be promoted in the future.

Vladimir Putin, for his part, expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s achievements in recent years, reaffirmed that the nation deserves to be one of the most dynamic developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and expressed his confidence that his trip will open new horizons, helping to further strengthen and consolidate the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

During his meeting with Vladimir Putin, General Secretary of the Communist Party (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong highlighted the significance of Putin’s visit on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Basic Principles of Friendly Relations.

Phu Trong spoke with the Russian president about the implementation of the foreign policy of independence, self-determination, diversification and multilateralization of Vietnam’s foreign relations, which includes the promotion of bilateral cooperation with strategic, comprehensive and other important partners.

During the conversation, Putin confirmed that bilateral relations have been tested over time, affirmed that the development of a comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam is a priority in Russia’s foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific region, and highly valued the great achievements achieved by Vietnam in almost 40 years of implementing the Renewal process, which raised the position and prestige of the Communist Party and the State of Vietnam in the international arena.

Another of the issues addressed was the crisis in Ukraine, regarding which the Vietnamese leader expressed the hope that negotiations may be established shortly, the cessation of hostilities be decreed and talks resumed to find a peaceful solution based on international law that safeguards the legitimate interests of all parties involved. Vietnam is ready to make a positive contribution to promote dialogue and negotiations in this direction, Phu Trong said.

As a result of this visit, a Joint Declaration was issued on deepening the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, based on the achievements achieved during 30 years of implementation of the Treaty on the Basic Principles of Vietnam-Russia Friendly Relations.

mh/llp/rgh/mpm