The first Vietnam-Russia People's Forum was a great success.

After two days of urgent and effective work, with 24 presentations on diverse topics from science, education, health to cultural and trade exchanges, the first Vietnam-Russia People's Forum left a strong impression on delegates from both countries; at the same time opening up new directions for cooperation between the people of Vietnam and the Russian Federation.

President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son speaks at the closing session of the first Vietnam-Russia People's Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

On October 1, the closing session of the first Vietnam-Russia People's Forum took place in Hanoi .

Attending the closing session were: Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son, Vice Chairman of the Saint Petersburg Foreign Affairs Committee Vyacheslav Kalganov, representatives of the leaders of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association, the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association, representatives of departments, ministries, branches, organizations, localities, intellectuals, scholars, businesses and people's organizations of the two countries.

The first Vietnam-Russia People's Forum, organized by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations in coordination with the Saint Petersburg Foreign Affairs Committee, the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association, the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Russia-Vietnam Cooperation Development Fund "Tradition and Friendship" of the Russian Federation, took place on September 30 and October 1.

Within the framework of the first Vietnam-Russia People's Forum, 4 seminars were held, with 24 presentations on various topics from science, education, health to cultural and trade exchanges... Accordingly, delegates put forward many initiatives and proposals for practical cooperation in the fields of science, technology, health, economics , trade, law, education and culture. These include establishing direct flights from Saint Petersburg to Vietnamese localities; Russia considering visa exemption policy for Vietnamese citizens; promoting short-term student exchanges between universities of the two countries; supporting the establishment of "Vietnam House" in Saint Petersburg as a convergence point of culture, education and people-to-people cooperation.

Speaking at the closing session, Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son said that the first Vietnam-Russia People's Forum had fulfilled its set goals, becoming valuable experience to better prepare for the second organization.

Within the framework of the first Vietnam-Russia People's Forum, four seminars were held, with 24 presentations on various topics from science, education, health to cultural and trade exchanges. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

"The Vietnam-Russia relationship is a special relationship, built over 75 years on the foundation of deep affection between the people of the two countries. Even many Vietnamese who have never set foot in Russia still love the country, culture, music and people of Russia - that is the foundation that needs to be maintained and promoted," emphasized Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son.

According to the President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, in the context of the current complicated international situation, Vietnam-Russia people-to-people cooperation needs to both promote tradition and promote more substantive and effective cooperation, in line with the development orientation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, as well as the direction of the two countries' senior leaders. Currently, bilateral trade turnover has only reached about 4.6 billion USD (in 2024), still modest compared to the potential, and needs to be further exploited through business cooperation, local connections, and cultural exchanges.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hung, Director of the Russia-Vietnam Cooperation Development Fund “Tradition and Friendship” - member of the Forum Organizing Committee, spoke. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

The fields of science, technology, digital transformation, culture, arts, as well as cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries need to be focused on, especially through the active participation of universities, research institutes and relevant agencies.

Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son said that Vietnam will focus on diversifying the delegations attending the second Vietnam-Russia People's Forum in Russia. The organizing committee will seriously learn from experience, promote strengths, and overcome limitations so that the next Forum can be organized more effectively, with better quality and have a stronger impact.

As a member of the Forum's Organizing Committee, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hung, Director of the Russia-Vietnam Cooperation Development Fund "Tradition and Friendship", said that the first Vietnam-Russia People's Forum was successful in three aspects: realizing President Ho Chi Minh's "public diplomacy" ideology; inheriting the achievements of people-to-people diplomacy activities between the two countries; and applying a creative and modern approach, creating new momentum for Vietnam-Russia people-to-people relations.

Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese Organizations in the Russian Federation Do Xuan Hoang speaks at the closing session. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hung, the Forum was successful thanks to the presence of managers, scientists, intellectuals, artists, businessmen, doctors and many Vietnamese friends. The open and connected atmosphere among the delegates and the response of the people of the capital contributed to creating a unique character for the first Vietnam-Russia People's Forum.

Affirming the success of the first Vietnam-Russia People's Forum, Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese Organizations in the Russian Federation Do Xuan Hoang said that the Forum demonstrated the true spirit of a people's forum: diverse perspectives, but converging on the sentiment of attachment and the desire to contribute to further deepening the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Vice Chairman of the Saint Petersburg City Committee for Foreign Affairs Vyacheslav Kalganov speaks at the closing session of the Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Speaking at the closing session, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Saint Petersburg City Vyacheslav Kalganov said that Saint Petersburg City will host the second Vietnam-Russia People's Forum in October 2026.

Emphasizing that the Forum needs to produce concrete results that directly serve the interests of the people of the two countries, Mr. Vyacheslav Kalganov proposed that relevant Vietnamese agencies consider building a memorial to Soviet and Vietnamese experts in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City; and naming a street in Vietnam after the city of Leningrad.

Khanh Lan

Source: https://nhandan.vn/dien-dan-nhan-dan-viet-nga-lan-thu-nhat-thanh-cong-tot-dep-post912178.html