Leaders of Vietnam and Russia have always supported and facilitated the bilateral defence and military-technical cooperation.

Vietnam, Russia armies beef up cooperation in political education

Ample room for Vietnam, Russia to foster trade relations

Measures to boost Vietnam, Russia's parties ties discussed

General Phan Van Giang (right) receives Russian Deputy Defense Minister Aleksey Yurievich Krivoruchko. Photo: People’s Army Newspaper

Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang on September 4 hosted a reception for Russian Deputy Defense Minister Aleksey Yurievich Krivoruchko, who is in Vietnam to attend the closing ceremony of the “Sniper Frontier” and “Emergency Area” contests of the Army Games 2021.

General Giang highlighted the time-honored friendship between the two countries and emphasized that Vietnam always attaches much importance to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia and considers it a top priority in the country’s foreign policy.

The Vietnamese defense minister said that over the past time, leaders of the two countries have paid attention to fostering defense cooperation, thus creating a momentum to expand the bilateral cooperation in other fields. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the two defense ministries have actively supported each other in their pandemic fight.

General Phan Van Giang also took the occasion to thank Russia for assisting Vietnam in combating the Covid-19 pandemic, People’s Army Newspaper reported.

He also highlighted the outcomes of bilateral defense ties over the past time, especially in delegation exchanges, training, cooperation among units and support at regional mechanisms and forums. General Giang reaffirmed that Vietnam will support Russia’s hosting of the Army Games and actively participate in the event to strengthen friendship and defense cooperation with participating countries.

The two defense leaders visit the weaponry and military equipment exhibition area held in the framework of the Army Games in Vietnam.

For his part, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Aleksey Yurievich Krivoruchko congratulated the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) on successfully hosting the “Sniper Frontier” and “Emergency Area” contests within the Army Games 2021 and hoped that the VPA will continue supporting and participating in the Army Games 2022.

After the reception, the Vietnamese defense minister and Russian deputy defense minister toured the Cultural Space, the Weaponry and Military Equipment Exhibition Area, and sidelines activities of the Army Games, before attending the closing ceremony.

Educational cooperation

Illustrative photo (Source: studyrussian.com)

A meeting took place virtually between Vietnam and leaders of Kuzbass, an educational organisation from Russia’s Kemerovo Region on September 3 on the sidelines of the 6th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

Reports on cooperation between academic establishments of the sides were presented at the event, Vietnam Plus said.

Also on the occasion, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology’s Institute for Tropical Technology signed a memorandum of understanding for collaboration with the Kuzbass State Technical University.

The 6th EEF was held in both face-to-face and online formats under the theme of “The Opportunities for the Far East in a World under Transformation” on September 2 – 4. It featured about 70 activities in its agenda in addition to many cultural, sport, and youth exchange programmes.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency's correspondents in Russia on the sidelines of the event, Evgeni Vlasov, Deputy Vice-President for International Relations at Russia’s Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), said information technology, biopharmaceuticals and medicine in general, protecting people, and improving the quality of life will be the future of cooperation between Vietnam and Russia.

According to Grigory Trofimchuk, Chairman of the Council of Experts of the Eurasian Research Fund, Vietnam has for years put forth initiatives and suggestions in contribution to the forum's common activities in order to facilitate the development of the region.

A bridge between Russia and ASEAN

Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien speaks at the Eastern Economic Forum. Photo: VNA

Addressing the Eastern Economic Forum, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said as an active member of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) and a reliable partner of Russia, Vietnam is ready to serve as a bridge connecting Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) with ASEAN nations.

He suggested that steps be taken to implement the free trade agreement between ASEAN and the EAEU which serves as a basis for boosting cooperation between ASEAN and Russia in particular and inter-regional collaboration between ASEAN and the EAEU in general.

After nearly 55 years of establishment and development, ASEAN is increasingly asserting itself as one of the most successful regional cooperation organisations and plays an increasingly important role in regional and international relations, Dien said.

The minister said that at the special ASEAN-Russia Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN-Russia relations in July, the countries agreed on the necessity to create a new impetus in the relationship and further strengthening the strategic partnership.

Vietnam and other ASEAN countries had pledged to work closely with Russia to promote trade and investment, maintain regional supply chains, intensify cooperation between the EAEU and ASEAN, and make contributions to promote regional trade and linkages, he said.

Ivan Polyakov, Chairman of the Russia-ASEAN Business Council Ivan Polyakov, who chaired the dialogue, said ASEAN is a region with strong economic development and still has great development potential.

The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Sergey Katyrin said Russia has a lot of mechanisms and tools to cooperate with ASEAN.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia-ASEAN trade turnover increased by 20 percent in the first six months of this year, he said, adding that with this growth rate, bilateral trade turnover is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year.

He also noted the cooperation in developing a green economy in the context of more natural disasters would occur in the world due to the impact of climate change./.

Rosy Huong