(VOVworld) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc is leading a senior Vietnamese delegation to attend a commemorative summit in Russia marking the 20th anniversary of the ASEAN-Russia dialogue relationship. The visit is a demonstration of Vietnam valuing its relations with Russia and ASEAN-Russia relations and the role of bilateral and multilateral forums in the new global context.
This is Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s first foreign visit since his election. With its increasingly important role in ASEAN, Vietnam has contributed significantly to strengthening connectivity between ASEAN and Russia over the last 20 years.
Vietnam-Russia relations
The traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Russia have been constantly promoted with high political trust. A strategic and defense dialogue has been ongoing and economic, trade, and investment cooperation has grown significantly. Russia ranks 17th among the 101 countries and territories invested in Vietnam with 114 projects capitalized at 2 billion USD. Vietnam has invested approximately 3 billion USD in 20 projects in Russia. Energy has been the main area of bilateral cooperation. Professor Ta Ngoc Tan, Vice-president of the Central Theoretical Council, said: “Relations between the two countries are practical, taking into consideration each other’s position and role. Both countries want specific measures to deepen their cooperation. Energy and military cooperation will guarantee the sustainable development of Vietnam-Russia relations.”
Vietnam and Russia have signed more than 100 cooperation agreements, creating a relatively complete legal framework for the boosting of bilateral ties in both scope and scale. During Prime Minister Phuc’s visit, they will review the implementation of major projects in a number of areas and discuss a number of relevant regional and global issues.
Vietnam: bridging Russia-ASEAN dialogue relationship
Russia became ASEAN’s full dialogue partner in 1996. Russia has supported ASEAN in implementing the 2025 ASEAN Community Vision, its central role, and its efforts to combat terrorism and transnational crime and to narrow the development gap between member countries. Russia has participated in ASEAN-led mechanisms, contributing to peace, stability, and security in the region. Professor Ta Ngoc Tan said: “With its important role in connecting emerging forces, Southeast Asia is becoming an important factor on the global strategic map. Russia’s return to Southeast Asia is an imminent strategy, which will have a direct and multidimensional effect on the regional situation. Russia considers Vietnam an important partner in promoting its relations with other ASEAN members.”
Vietnam’s consistant policy is to develop comprehensive relations between ASEAN and Russia, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in Asia-Pacific and the world.
At the commemorative summit Prime Minister Phuc and leaders of other ASEAN countries and Russia will discuss directions for ASEAN-Russia dialogue relations. They will adopt a number of documents as the foundation for a Russia-ASEAN plan of action to boost cooperation in politics, economics, culture, and security.