Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin in August 2018. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Russian experts have said 2018 was a fruitful year for thecomprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia.
Professor Vladimir Kolotov, Director of Ho Chi Minh Institute under St.Petersburg State University, said the thriving relationship was boosted by thevisit to Russia by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam NguyenPhu Trong in September, as well as Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’svisit to Vietnam in November.
The Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement lifted tradeand economic ties between Vietnam and Russia, he said, noting that the twocountries have made significant steps in efforts to raise bilateral traderevenue.
Businesspeople from Russian cities came to Vietnam to introduce their products.Meanwhile, delegations of Vietnamese enterprises visited Russia to seekcooperation and investment opportunities.
The partnership in military technology between the two countries has also madeprogress, with notable events like the June visit to the south central provinceof Khanh Hoa by a Russian Pacific Fleet detachment.
During the fourth defence strategy dialogue in Moscow in December, VietnameseDeputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh stressed Russiahas been, and will always be Vietnam’s trustworthy ally and partner.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu also highlighted the specialrelationship between the two countries.
In education, four Russian universities have been awarded with Vietnam’sFriendship Order, namely Lomonosov Moscow StateUniversity, Moscow State Linguistic University, RANEPA Institute of Public Administration and Civil Serviceand National Research Nuclear University MEPhI.
Although Vietnam cancelled a project to build a nuclear power plant, the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI is still helping the countrytrain experts in the nuclear field.
In 2018, Vietnamese in Moscow and Russian friends held a festival tocommemorate the death anniversary of the Hung Kings for the first time, which isexpected be observed annually not only in the Russian capital but on a largerscale in the future.
The first Russia-Vietnam Youth Forum took place in St. Petersburg earlier thismonth, along with activities marking the 95th year since PresidentHo Chi Minh (then Nguyen Ai Quoc) set foot in Russia for the first time (June30-1923-2018).
Prof. Kolotov and other Russian experts believe the bilateral relationship willbe enhanced in 2019.-VNA
VNA
