Russia Prime Minister arrives in Hanoi, being Vietnam’s first guest in 2025

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 14 welcomed Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin, the first guest of the country for 2025.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Hanoi on January 14. Photos: Nhat Bac/VGP

This is the first visit of the Russian Prime Minister to Vietnam, part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the long-lasting bilateral ties between the two countries and the strategic partnership in the region.

The discussions covered a range of issues including economic cooperation, trade, technology, and regional security.

This visit demonstrates both countries' commitment to deepening cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including trade, investment, science and technology, and regional security.

Prime Minister Mishustin’s visit comes at a time when both Vietnam and Russia are looking to enhance their 75-year partnership, focusing on expanding collaboration in key areas of mutual interest.

The two government leaders emphasized the importance of increasing trade volume and diversifying the types of goods exchanged, with Russia seeking to expand its presence in Vietnam's rapidly growing market, and Vietnam aiming to boost its exports to Russia.

Hanoi's children wave flags to welcome the Russian Prime Minister.

In 2024, two-way trade hit US$4.57 billion, up 26% on year. As of November 2024, Russia invested $990 million in Vietnam while the Southeast Asian country poured $1.6 billion into 16 projects in Russia.

Both leaders also agreed on the need to strengthen cultural and educational exchanges, a key component of bilateral ties that have historically been built on mutual respect and a shared history. Russia has been a partner for Vietnam in its development over many years, especially in areas such as military cooperation, nuclear energy, and scientific research.

Cooperation between Russia and Vietnam has been strengthened in various fields, including education, culture, tourism, and decentralization. Russia has increased scholarships for Vietnamese students to 1,000 annually, bringing the total number of Vietnamese students in Russia to 5,000. The two countries also celebrate annual Cultural Days, fostering greater cultural exchange.

In terms of decentralization, Russia and Vietnam share 20 twin cities, with notable pairings between Hanoi and Moscow, and Ho Chi Minh City and Saint Petersburg. The Vietnamese community in Russia has grown to 60,000, many of whom consider Russia their second home.

The two leaders discuss measures for further comprehensive strategic partnership.

Comprehensive relations

One of the focal points of the discussions was enhancing economic cooperation. Prime Minister Chinh highlighted Vietnam’s strong economic growth and the country’s role as a gateway to the Southeast Asian market. He proposed expanding cooperation in sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and technology.

Russia, which has vast natural resources, was particularly keen on developing partnerships with Vietnam in energy, including the exploration of renewable energy projects, oil and gas extraction, and nuclear power.

The two leaders also discussed ways to improve connectivity between Russian and Vietnamese businesses, as well as initiatives to promote tourism, which could benefit from closer ties.

In addition to trade, both countries have worked on expanding cooperation in areas such as education, where Russian universities have attracted Vietnamese students, and cultural exchanges, which have helped build people-to-people ties between the two nations.

The discussions between the two leaders are expected to lead to concrete steps toward achieving mutual goals, especially in areas like economic cooperation, energy, and regional stability.

The two prime ministers explore photos featuring the two countries' relations.

Vietnam-Russia historic partnership

Vietnam and Russia have enjoyed a long and close relationship dating back to the Soviet era, with the two countries sharing historical, political, and economic ties. The relationship has been marked by mutual respect, and over the years, Russia has been an important partner for Vietnam in various fields, including defense, education, and technology. The Russian government has provided Vietnam with critical support in areas such as military equipment and energy, while Vietnam has been a key partner for Russia in Southeast Asia.

The visit marks an important milestone in reinforcing the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi described Prime Minister Mishustin’s visit as a key moment in reinforcing the enduring and multi-faceted partnership between Vietnam and Russia, with a particular focus on enhancing economic, cultural, and geopolitical ties between the two nations.

He said the visit is seen as an opportunity to elevate the strategic partnership between the two countries, deepening cooperation in various areas, including trade, energy, and technology with a focus on growing economic collaboration with the potential for expanding bilateral trade, enhancing investments, and boosting economic exchanges in different sectors such as energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and high-tech industries.

He said the visit provides an opportunity for leaders to discuss key issues, set strategic directions, and define areas of cooperation, including economics, trade, energy, science and technology, education, culture, and defense.

The visit also serves to review progress on important projects and explore solutions to expand collaboration in potential areas, further enhancing Vietnam-Russia relations.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visits the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.