The people of Vietnam hope Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit the country this year, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russian Ngo Duc Manh told Russia’s reporters on January 30. 
Russian President Putin visited Vietnam in 2013. Photo: VNS
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Putin has been in Vietnam for four times, in 2001, 2006, 2013, and 2017.
“We are always waiting for President Putin’s visit to Vietnam,” the diplomat said. The people of Vietnam would want to see the Russian leader in their country once again this year, the diplomat said.
For many Vietnamese people, Putin is seen as a strong leader, Ngo Duc Manh stressed, saying that during the previous visits of the Russian leader he was welcomed in the streets by thousands of alumni in Russia and Soviet.
In 2012, President Vladimir Putin affirmed Russia would tighten cooperation with Vietnam in study, manufacturing, and maintenance of military equipment and weaponry.
On November 18-19, 2018, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visited Vietnam, marking his fourth trip to the Southeast Asian country since 2010. The visit focused on defense ties and cooperation in petroleum.
Vietnam and Russia established diplomatic relations in 1950 and upgraded it to strategic partnership in 2001, then comprehensive strategic partnership in 2012.
The two sides target the two-way trade of US$10 billion before 2020, with oil and gas being central to the cooperation.
