Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized the significance of expanding Russia’s strategic partnership with Vietnam.
He conveyed these thoughts during discussions with Vietnamese President To Lam on the first day of his state visit to the Southeast Asian country.
Putin also extended an invitation to Lam to join the commemorations in Moscow next year, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. This invitation underscores the historical ties and shared memories between the two nations.
This information was reported by the Russian state news agency TASS on Thursday.
Putin arrived in Hanoi late Wednesday after completing a visit to North Korea. His agenda in Vietnam includes attending a state banquet on Thursday, following meetings with Nguyen Phu Trong, the general secretary of the country’s ruling Communist Party, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Facing international isolation, Putin aims to strengthen support from Russia’s remaining allies. Commentators suggest that his brief tour of Vietnam and North Korea holds both practical and symbolic significance.
“Putin’s trip to Vietnam will reinvigorate their comprehensive strategic partnership and shore up economic relations through trade and investment commitments by adopting a rouble-đồng currency exchange mechanism for goods and services payments,” said Carl Thayer, an emeritus professor of politics at the University of New South Wales in Australia.
Another topic likely to be discussed is Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine. Despite this, the Ukrainian ambassador in Hanoi, Oleksandr Haman, told dpa that he did not expect Vietnam to abandon its neutral stance on the conflict.
During his stay in Hanoi, Putin is residing at The Sofitel Metropole, a French-owned hotel. Ahead of his arrival, a Russian-chartered jumbo jet transported limousines for Putin’s use throughout his visit.
