Moscow (VNA) – A Vietnamese delegation held a working session with St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov in the Russian city on May 20 to seek ways to enhance the two countries’ relations.
The delegation included Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Phan Anh Son, former Vice State President Truong My Hoa, President of the Vietnamese Association in Russia Do Xuan Hoang, and representatives of the Vietnamese community in St. Peterburg.
Speaking at the meeting, Beglov affirmed that the city has always been at the forefront of promoting cooperation between Vietnam and Russia, adding since 2018, it has held annual events to promote the bilateral friendship, which now form part of the Vietnam Week in St. Peterburg.
He highlighted activities to be held from June 2024 to September 2025 to celebrate the friendship such as the naming of the Ho Chi Minh Square, where President Ho Chi Minh's monument is located; and the building of monuments to former Soviet Union and Vietnamese experts who have made great contributions to the development of Vietnam; along with many cooperation programmes on training, education, and information exchange.
For his part, Khoi said in the congratulatory telegram to Vladimir Putin over his re-election as President of Russia, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasised his desire to promote the bilateral relations and invited President Putin to visit Vietnam as soon as possible.
The ambassador said the Ho Chi Minh Square will be a pride of Vietnamese people, and the naming demonstrates the sentiments of St. Petersburg's people to Vietnam. He emphasised that Vietnam and its people will never forget the wholehearted support of their Russian counterparts in the past, and will educate younger generations about this.
The diplomat appreciated initiatives to strengthen people-to-people diplomacy, education for young generations, and information exchange, saying this will be a factor to promote the sustainable development of the bilateral relations.
Earlier, the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg organised a symposium to mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Principles of Friendly Relations between Vietnam and Russia, and the 70th anniversary of Vietnam's Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954)./.
