Russian President Vladimir Putin has described Vietnam as a steadfast friend and one of Moscow's most important partners in Asia during talks with Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.
The remarks came during talks on June 18 between Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and President Putin on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit marking 35 years of dialogue relations.
Putin welcomed the Vietnamese Prime Minister and thanked Vietnam for its close coordination and active contributions to the success of the anniversary summit.
The Russian leader praised the substantive achievements in bilateral relations, particularly the high level of political trust that continues to underpin expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung said he was pleased to make his first visit to Russia in his new position and congratulated both sides on the successful organization of the ASEAN-Russia summit.
He reaffirmed that Vietnam consistently regards Russia as one of its leading partners in foreign policy and noted that traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries have continued to develop despite an increasingly complex international environment.
President Vladimir Putin welcomes Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and thanks Vietnam for its contributions to the success of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit. Photo: VNAPrime Minister Le Minh Hung invites President Vladimir Putin to attend the APEC Leaders' Week, scheduled to be hosted by Vietnam in 2027. Photo: VNA
The Prime Minister emphasized that Vietnam's new government is committed to working closely with Russia to implement agreements reached between Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and President Putin, with the aim of elevating cooperation across all areas.
He also expressed hope that Putin would continue supporting efforts to effectively implement existing bilateral commitments.
The two leaders discussed measures to generate new momentum in bilateral cooperation and further strengthen the long-term foundation of the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Both sides agreed that cooperation currently enjoys significant opportunities and untapped potential.
A key area of discussion was energy cooperation. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and President Putin agreed to promote negotiations aimed at accelerating implementation of the proposed Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant project.
They identified energy, oil and gas, and nuclear power as strategic pillars of bilateral cooperation that should proceed according to agreed roadmaps.
The leaders also outlined priorities for deeper collaboration in trade, investment, science and technology, education and training, transportation, culture and tourism.
On economic cooperation, both sides reaffirmed their determination to increase bilateral trade to USD15 billion in the coming years.
They also agreed to expand cooperation in mining, transportation, shipbuilding, railway modernization and the development of regional and international transport corridors, including rail links connecting through China.
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung called on Russia to provide greater market access for Vietnamese exports, particularly agricultural products.
He also proposed lifting restrictions on certain seafood processing facilities and expanding the list of Vietnamese companies eligible to export seafood to Russia and other members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
The Vietnamese leader further suggested discussions on revising the Vietnam-EAEU Free Trade Agreement and removing safeguard measures affecting Vietnamese textile and footwear exports to Russia and the wider EAEU market.
President Putin expressed support for expanding Russian language education in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, and reaffirmed Russia's commitment to supporting Vietnamese students.
The two sides also agreed to promote tourism and people-to-people exchanges, work toward opening a Vietnamese Cultural Center in Russia, consider establishing a Russian school in Hanoi and organize a Russian Cultural Season in Vietnam in 2027.
Eurasian integration offers new opportunities
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung attends a working luncheon during the ASEAN-Russia Summit. Photo: Nhat Bac
Earlier, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung joined other ASEAN leaders at a working luncheon hosted by President Putin during the summit.
Under the theme "Eurasian Integration," participants discussed the growing importance of the Eurasian region as a strategic center for global development and connectivity, stretching from Europe and Central Asia through Russia and the Caucasus to South Asia, East Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific.
The region is home to approximately 3.4 billion people, accounts for around 25 percent of global GDP and more than 15 percent of international trade. It also contains over half of the world's oil reserves, roughly 60 percent of natural gas reserves, significant strategic mineral resources and more than a quarter of global agricultural land.
ASEAN leaders highlighted the bloc's own growing economic weight. In 2025, ASEAN's combined GDP reached approximately USD4 trillion, making it the world's fifth-largest economy, with projections suggesting it could rise to fourth place by 2030.
The bloc continues to deepen regional integration through initiatives such as the ASEAN Power Grid and the recently concluded negotiations for the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, which aims to support a regional digital economy worth USD2 trillion by 2030.
Leaders from ASEAN and Russia agreed that stronger connectivity between ASEAN, Russia's Far East and Central Asia could create new engines of growth across the broader Eurasian space.
Vietnamnet.vn
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