Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Bezdetko has announced that the leaders of Vietnam and the Russian Federation have officially extended invitations to visit each other in 2026. He expressed confidence that the visits will proceed as scheduled.

This announcement came during a press briefing held by the Russian Embassy in Hanoi, reviewing the progress of the Vietnam–Russia comprehensive strategic partnership over the past year.

According to Ambassador Bezdetko, 2025 was an eventful year for both countries, marked by significant milestones in each nation’s history and in their bilateral relations. Despite geopolitical turbulence, the ambassador emphasized that the Vietnam–Russia partnership continued to thrive across various sectors, underpinned by "regular and substantive dialogue at all levels, including the highest."

The ambassador highlighted the May visit to Russia by General Secretary To Lam as a pivotal moment of the year. The visit culminated in the signing of numerous agreements across sectors such as economics, science, and workforce training.

“We are sincerely grateful to our Vietnamese friends who participated in the solemn events in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War Victory. The presence of Vietnamese military personnel in the parade on Red Square was met with profound emotion and respect,” the ambassador shared.

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In September, on the sidelines of events in China, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Additionally, several high-level Russian delegations visited Vietnam during the year.

Bilateral trade continued its upward trajectory. According to Vietnamese statistics, the total trade volume in the first 11 months of 2025 reached USD 4.3 billion, a 3.7% increase year-over-year. Russian exports to Vietnam stood at USD 2.24 billion (up 10.75%), while imports were USD 2.06 billion (down 3%).

Ambassador Bezdetko expressed confidence that effective implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union will help unlock even greater trade results. Both sides are currently preparing for the next meeting of the Vietnam–Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation.

“We hope this meeting will review progress on the master plan for Vietnam–Russia cooperation until 2030. The roadmap includes areas such as trade, investment, industry, energy, transportation, ICT, science, education, and more,” he said.

Oil and gas cooperation continues to expand with the involvement of Russian giants such as Zarubezhneft, Gazprom, NOVATEK, and Vietnam’s PetroVietnam.

The ambassador confirmed that negotiations on a new intergovernmental agreement for the construction of the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant have entered the final phase. Both countries are also exploring potential joint renewable energy projects in Vietnam.

Russia’s GAZ automobile assembly plant in Da Nang has been operating effectively, assembling and delivering around 3,000 vehicles to the Vietnamese market since 2020.

Direct flights between Russia and Vietnam resumed this year, contributing to a surge in Russian tourism. According to Vietnamese statistics, over 590,000 Russian visitors traveled to Vietnam in the first 11 months of 2025 - a 290% increase year-on-year - and are expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels by year-end.

The ongoing construction of the Vietnam Nuclear Science and Technology Center, with support from Rosatom, continues to progress. In December, in Hai Phong, the research vessel “Professor Gagarinsky” was handed over to the Vietnam–Russia Tropical Center, significantly expanding joint marine research capabilities.

“We highly value Vietnam’s effective coordination in multilateral forums such as the United Nations, BRICS, APEC, and the Russia–ASEAN framework. We sincerely thank Vietnam for its consistent support and co-sponsorship of Russian initiatives at the UN General Assembly,” the ambassador affirmed.

At the press conference, responding to questions about high-level visits in 2026, Ambassador Bezdetko revealed, “Vietnamese leaders have extended invitations to Russian leaders, and we have officially invited Vietnamese leaders to visit Russia. I am hopeful - and indeed confident - that these visits will take place as planned.”

On the topic of energy cooperation, the ambassador reiterated that collaboration between Rosatom and Vietnamese agencies goes beyond technical exchange and includes the nuclear power plant project.

Regarding the progress of Ninh Thuan 1, he noted that both sides are actively finalizing a new intergovernmental agreement, with negotiations now at an advanced stage and a high degree of consensus achieved.

He expressed hope that negotiations would conclude within one to three months, paving the way for an official signing in early 2026, potentially aligned with upcoming high-level diplomatic events.

Tran Thuong