(VOVWORLD) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is leading a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to attend the expanded 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan city, Russia, at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, the Chair of the Summit. Vietnam’s attendance at the two-day event illustrates its support for multilateral forums and mechanisms like BRICS.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh leaves for BRICS Summit in Kazan city, Russia. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA) |
This year’s summit will feature a plenary session themed "BRICS and the Global South: Building a Better World Together".
An important step in external affairs
Prime Minister Chinh's working trip is a high-level foreign affairs activity, an important step in implementing Vietnam's consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, and diversification of foreign relations, being a friend, a reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community, as well as Vietnam’s policy of upleveling multilateral diplomacy.
The trip illustrates Vietnam's proactive and responsible participation in multilateral mechanisms like expanded BRICS to address global challenges and promote sustainable and inclusive development. It also realizes Vietnam's desire to raise the voices of developing countries in global governance, thereby building a multipolar and equitable world order and contributing to peace, stability, and development.
Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang said: “Attending the expanded BRICS Summit is a testament to Vietnam's commitment and responsibility to stand side by side with other countries to promote multilateralism and international solidarity, respect rule of law, and contribute to raising the voices of developing countries in fostering peace, cooperation, and development in the world.”
This is also a venue for Vietnam to promote bilateral relations with countries attending BRICS and increase coordination at multilateral forums.
Creating an impulse for Vietnam-Russia cooperation
The Prime Minister’s attendance at the expanded BRICS Summit during Russia’s 2024 Chairmanship shows Vietnam’s regard for its strategic relations with Russia and its wish to further practical and effective cooperation with Russia.
The traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries have progressed well. This year, both are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the signing of a treaty on the basic principles of friendship. Next year they will celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Economic cooperation has been maintained, with two-way trade turnover in the first half of 2024 of 2.34 billion USD, 45.4% above the same period last year. Oil and gas energy cooperation continues to be a pillar of Vietnam-Russia cooperation.
Along with visits by senior leaders of both countries recently, Prime Minister Chinh's trip creates momentum for bilateral cooperation, and opens up opportunities for substantive and effective cooperation between the two countries commensurate with their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Associate Professor Maxim Syunnerberg of the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Moscow State University said: “Russia-Vietnam bilateral relations will continue to develop in a positive direction. January 2025 will be a memorable day celebrating the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. At a meeting in Hanoi on June 20, 2024, President Vladimir Putin and Party General Secretary To Lam said the Russia-Vietnam relationship is a friendship based on many years of close interaction. Both have strengthened cooperation in culture, humanitarian issues, education, information, and communication.”
With a motto of doing their best for cooperation, development, and prosperity, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation will make responsible contributions to the expanded BRICS Summit, affirm Vietnam’s position as a reliable, responsible partner in the international community, and uphold an aspiration for prosperous development.