HCMC – Sharing common views on most international issues, Vietnam and Russia have strengthened ties and supported each other at multilateral dialogues and international forums of the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Asia-Europe Meeting, Russian Consul General to HCMC Timur Sadykov said at a press conference this morning, December 29.
Russia has attached special importance to its relationship with Vietnam as a member of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). This year marks an important milestone as the two countries celebrate the 20th anniversary of their Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership.
Despite the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam and Russia have continued their regular political dialogues. Most recently, Vietnamese State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a successful visit to Russia, during which he held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders to discuss bilateral and international issues.
At present, Vietnam is one of the leading trade partners of Russia in the ASEAN region. From January to September 2021, two-way trade between Vietnam and Russia reached US$4.7 billion, soaring 16% against the same period last year.
Fuel and energy have been the key pillars of economic cooperation between the two countries for many years. The success of Vietsovpetro is evidence of the Vietnam-Russia collaboration in the oil and energy industry.
In 2021, the joint venture celebrates its 40th anniversary with numerous achievements. Vietsovpetro has extracted 3.1 million tons of oil and 83.6 million cubic meters of gas. The venture has also put into operation 34 projects, including BK oil rigs in the Bach Ho oil field.
Besides, Novatek and Zarubezhneft have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop an integrated energy-generating project using liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan.
PVGAZPROM Natural Gas for Vehicles, a Russian-Vietnamese company, has been granted an investment license from the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau to develop an LNG plant.
In addition, Rosatom State Atomiс Energy Corporation is implementing a project to construct the Center of Nuclear Energy Science and Technologies in Vietnam. Equipped with a research nuclear reactor, the center will become a cornerstone of nuclear science and technology development not only for Vietnam but for ASEAN.
Alongside economic cooperation, Vietnam and Russia have joined hands to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, Vietnam donated antibiotics, face masks and personal protective equipment. Meanwhile, Russia supported Vietnam in researching antivirals, Covid-19 tests and vaccines.
In 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, Vietnam attracted more than 650,000 Russian tourists, mainly to its southern destinations. However, tourism was disrupted in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Since travel restrictions were relaxed, Russian tourists have returned to Vietnam. Khanh Hoa Province welcomed back the first Russian tourists on December 26 after nearly two years of border closure induced by Covid-19.
This was the first group of Russian tourists to return to the province after inbound tourism was interrupted in March last year.
The two countries have also seen fruitful cooperation between their localities. In particular, HCMC has set up direct relationships with Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Vladivostok and Sverdlovsk.
HCMC and Saint Petersburg have implemented a number of programs to strengthen their relationships, such as seminars and cooperation projects between their education-training departments and other organizations.
Besides, the two countries are preparing for agreements between Mordovia and Can Tho, Kursk and Ninh Thuan, Sverdlovsk and Dong Nai, and Tatarstan and Kien Giang.
“I hope that despite many obstacles caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the relationship between Vietnam and Russia will continue to grow strongly in 2022,” Sadykov said.
