Opportunity for Vietnamese and Russian leaders to comprehensively discuss bilateral cooperation issues

The visit of Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin to Vietnam is an opportunity for the two countries' leaders to comprehensively discuss bilateral cooperation issues as well as cooperation between the two countries' parliaments.

Ahead of the visit of Chairman of the State Duma (Lower House) of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin to Vietnam and co-chairing the 4th Session of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee from September 28-29, 2025, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Russian Federation Dang Minh Khoi shared with VNA reporters in the Russian Federation some key contents of the visit.

Here is the interview content:

- Could you please assess the progress in the relationship between the two countries, especially since the visit of General Secretary To Lam in May 2025?

Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi: The official visit of General Secretary To Lam to the Russian Federation in May 2025 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War was a great success, not only consolidating the long-standing traditional friendship but also creating a breakthrough, bringing the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to a new stage of development on the foundation of high political trust.

What is of particular significance is that the two countries' senior leaders have expressed high consensus in their determination to "renew" the relationship, making bilateral cooperation increasingly more substantial and effective, meeting the interests and development needs of each country in the new era. This is also a reciprocal visit to Vietnam by Russian President Vladimir Putin in June 2024.

General Secretary To Lam held a brief meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

Implementing the "Joint Statement on major orientations of the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the new period," cooperation agreements were signed within the framework of the visit in areas such as diplomacy, defense, oil and gas, use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, science and technology, education and training, etc., it can be said that the Vietnam-Russia relationship is changing, with more strong impetus for truly comprehensive cooperation, political relations are becoming more trustworthy, cooperation in all aspects is more dynamic and effective, especially economic and trade cooperation, the two sides find new driving forces for traditional areas of cooperation, and at the same time expand cooperation to new areas with great potential such as science and technology and health.

Dialogue and contact between high-ranking leaders of the two countries continue to be maintained regularly, contributing to further strengthening political trust - a key factor for Vietnam and Russia to strengthen strategic cooperation.

President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had bilateral meetings with Russian President V. Putin in China on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit (August 31) and activities commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism (September 3).

Chairman of the Russian State Duma V. Volodin is preparing to visit Vietnam. The two countries cherish the historical values ​​associated with important anniversaries in 2025 and demonstrate them through concrete actions.

Following the General Secretary's visit, recently, a representative of the Russian high-ranking leadership - First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Parliament, Secretary of the Plenary Council of the United Russia Party V. Yakushev attended the ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the founding of the country. Russia also sent military personnel to attend the military parade of Vietnam for the first time on this occasion.

It is possible to see clear movements in cooperation between the two countries in recent times, after the General Secretary's visit, in areas such as energy, health, culture, tourism, construction...

In particular, for the first time, Vietnam organized a Cultural Festival at Red Square (July 25 - August 3), attracting nearly 1 million visitors, followed by Vietnamese representative Duc Phuc participating and winning the Intervision International Music Competition hosted by Russia (September 20), which truly brought a new atmosphere to Vietnam-Russia cooperation, more closely connecting the two countries and peoples and creating favorable premises to promote cooperation in other fields, contributing to "renewing" the relationship.

Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi wishes Duc Phuc success. (Photo: Tam Hang/VNA)

- Could you please evaluate the significance and key contents of this visit of the Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin to Vietnam? What are the highlights of the two countries?

Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi: At the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, Chairman of the State Duma (Lower House) of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin will pay an official visit to Vietnam from September 28-29, 2025, to attend the 4th Session of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee. This is Mr. Volodin's third visit to Vietnam as Chairman of the State Duma.

This visit of Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin to Vietnam is within the framework of cooperation between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Russian National Assembly, taking place in the year when the two countries celebrate many important events in the Vietnam-Russia relationship as well as in each country such as the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Russia diplomatic relations, the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, and the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day.

The visit has many important meanings.

Firstly, the visit shows that the two countries value their traditional friendship and are determined to strengthen and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The visit is an important event in the Vietnam-Russia relationship in 2025, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, following the activities of the two sides' senior leaders since the beginning of the year: the official visit of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to Vietnam (January 2025), especially the official visit of General Secretary To Lam to Russia (May 2025), affirming the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, inheriting the tradition of friendship and cooperation built and nurtured over the past 75 years, entering a new era with a new mindset and increasing political trust.

Second, the visit aims to promote the implementation of major orientations to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that were discussed and agreed upon by the two countries' senior leaders during President Vladimir Putin's State visit to Vietnam (June 2024) and General Secretary To Lam's official visit to Russia (May 2025).

The two countries' National Assemblies, as the supreme legislative bodies, play an important role in creating a legal framework for bilateral cooperation as well as supervising the implementation of high-level agreements.

Third, the visit reflects the increasingly important role of the National Assembly in promoting bilateral cooperation as well as parliamentary cooperation around the world.

Fourth, the visit contributes to strengthening cooperation between the State Duma of the Russian Federation in particular, the Russian Federation Parliament in general and the National Assembly of Vietnam - one of the important political cooperation contents of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; enhancing exchanges, contacts and coordination between specialized committees and friendship parliamentary groups of the two countries as well as coordinating actions at international and regional inter-parliamentary forums.

The visit is an opportunity for the two countries' leaders to comprehensively discuss bilateral cooperation issues, from economics, trade, energy, oil and gas, science and technology to education, culture, defense, security, people-to-people exchange, etc., as well as cooperation between the two countries' National Assemblies; promote key cooperation projects as well as remove existing problems and obstacles and determine cooperation directions in the coming time.

During the visit, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin and Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man will co-chair the 4th meeting of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee. This is the first and highest inter-parliamentary cooperation mechanism between the Vietnamese National Assembly and a foreign legislative body.

At this meeting, the two sides will share their experiences in legislative activities, performing the supervisory role of the two countries' parliaments in implementing cooperation as well as exchanging solutions to guide the two governments to resolve specific difficulties and obstacles in bilateral cooperation in the current period, especially promoting the search for new driving forces, effectively exploiting potential fields such as science-technology, education-training that have not been fully utilized to achieve the goal of "renewing relations" and raising the level of cooperation. This is the 4th meeting of the Committee.

Both sides have experience in coordination and working, and I believe that the meeting will be a great success.

- In recent times, the two countries have actively cooperated to promote key cooperation projects in many fields. According to the Ambassador, what role will cooperation and experience sharing between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Russian Parliamentary House of Representatives play in removing bottlenecks and building more bridges of cooperation between the two countries in the coming time?

Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi: As a legislative body, the cooperation, coordination and exchange of experiences between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the House of Representatives of the Russian Parliament, through the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee mechanism, and exchanges through specialized committees are important in monitoring the implementation of agreements between the two countries' senior leaders, creating a favorable business environment, economic-trade cooperation, and investment for businesses and people of both sides, as well as building a complete and timely legal and treaty basis to effectively implement bilateral cooperation.

Besides the Intergovernmental Committees, the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee is one of the important cooperation mechanisms contributing to promoting bilateral cooperation.

The third meeting (September 2024) was attended by representatives of both governments, so the two sides resolved many issues.

If this mechanism continues to be effectively maintained, cooperation through the National Assembly channel will continue to play an active role in removing difficulties and obstacles, and promoting key cooperation projects in the energy sector.

The specialized committees of the two countries' National Assemblies can promote the expansion of cooperation in science-technology and education-training, which are areas in which Russia has great potential and strengths and Vietnam has great demand to serve development goals in the new era.

Besides, I think there are two issues that both sides need to pay attention to and consider promoting, which are the travel of citizens of the two countries and labor cooperation.

- Thank you, Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/co-hoi-de-lanh-dao-viet-nga-trao-doi-toan-dien-cac-van-de-hop-tac-song-phuong-post1063978.vnp