The opening ceremony of Vietnam Week kicked off in Moscow, Russia, on April 17, with a series of activities to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
| Delegates attend the opening ceremony of Vietnam Week. Photo: VNA |
The week-long event themed "Facets of Southeast Asia: Vietnam, the Gateway to Asia" is organized by the Russian House of International Scientific and Technical Cooperation.
The Vietnam Week events are divided into three theme areas: practical, scientific, technological, and cultural. Under the scientific and technical track, a number of important roundtables and other discussions will be held on solutions and ideas to bring practical benefits to both sides.
Participants can also learn and experience cultural and historical activities about Vietnam, such as attending concerts, learning traditional cuisine, painting, and calligraphy, and making traditional Vietnamese fans.
Speaking at the event's opening ceremony, Dmitry Protasovsky, Director General of the Russian House of International Scientific and Technical Cooperation, emphasized the festival's importance, which is expected to be held annually, in promoting friendly relations between Russia and Vietnam.
He said the event would enable the two countries to discuss and exchange potential cooperation between Russia and Vietnam. The relationship is based on 70 years of friendship, trust, and mutual respect.
Le Dac Quan, Chargé d'Affaires, Embassy of Vietnam in Russia, said that the launch of the event at this moment is even more meaningful as Vietnam and Russia successfully held the 24th session of the Vietnam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Trade and Scientific-Technical Cooperation in early April.
He said Vietnam and Russia had made efforts to maintain bilateral cooperation in many fields. Bilateral trade reached US$5.5 billion in 2021 but dropped by 35% to $3.55 billion in 2022 due to obstacles related to payment and logistics.
In early April, the visit of the Russian delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko to Vietnam strengthened bilateral relations. He said the two countries agreed to develop a plan for bilateral cooperation until 2030 and have jointly launched promising trade, economic, scientific, technological, and humanitarian projects.
