Politics

Vietnam makes up important part of Russia’s “Look East”: diplomat

Vietnam is an important part in Russia’s “Look East” policy, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son told Saigon Giai Phong daily ahead of President Tran Dai Quang’s visit to Russia.
Vietnam makes up important part of Russia’s “Look East”: diplomat ảnh 1Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son (Source: Laodong)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is an important part in Russia’s “LookEast” policy, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son told Saigon GiaiPhong daily ahead of President Tran Dai Quang’s visit to Russia.

The diplomat noted that Vietnam is a reliable and traditional partner ofRussia. Vietnam, located in an important maritime route connecting Russia andAsia-Pacific, was also the first to sign a trade agreement with the EurasianEconomic Community (EAEC) of which Russia is a member.

Vietnam and Russia set up their strategic partnership in 2001 andupgraded it to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2012.

The two sides have worked together at multilateral forums such as theUnited Nations and within ASEAN-Russia cooperation, contributing to maintainingpeace, stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

Russia has supported Vietnam’s hosting of the APEC 2017, said theambassador.

Vietnam and Russia have also supported settling territorial disputes inthe East Sea through peaceful means based on international law, including the 1982UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the spirit of the Declarationon the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, aiming to build a Code of Conduct inthe East Sea.

Both sides agreed that members of the UNCLOS must abide by theirobligations stated in the document.

At the same time, Vietnam and Russia have developed defence-security andmilitary technology cooperation, said Ambassador Son who added that economiccollaboration between the two countries has been strengthened with four keypillars of trade, investment, oil and gas and electricity.

Nearly 60,000 Vietnamese people reside in Russia, along with some 3,000Vietnamese studying in Russia.

Regarding benefits from the free trade agreement between Vietnam and theEAEC, which became effective on October 5, 2016, the diplomatic said that thedeal enabled Vietnam to access a 183 million-strong market with total GDP ofnearly 2.2 trillion USD.

Along with favourable conditions created by the agreement, the RussianGovernment has offered preferential policies to Vietnamese firms, especially inagriculture and consumer goods production.

The deal has pushed two-way trade between Vietnam and Russia to 1.37billion USD since October 2016, a rise of 27.2 percent year on year, with a 28.4percent rise in Vietnam’s exports.

In terms of education, Son asserted that Russia is a good choice forVietnamese students who wish to study abroad. Russia is Vietnam’s largestscholarship provider and every eyear, the Russian Government increases thenumber of scholarships for Vietnam.

Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Son said President Tran Dai Quang’s upcomingvisit will reinforce mutual trust, marking progress in bilateral cooperation.-VNA
VNA
#Russia’s “Look East” policy #Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son #President Tran Dai Quang’ #Russia #free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EAEC #Vietnam news #updated Vietnam news #Vietnamplus #Vietnam News Agency #Hanoi Russia
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

See more

Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Gen. Luong Tam Quang (R) and his Chinese counterpart Wang Xiaohong at their meeting on March 17 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese, Chinese ministers co-chair ninth conference on crime prevention

Over the past two years, the Vietnamese and China public securities ministries have sustained regular high-level exchanges and effectively followed cooperation mechanisms between professional units and police forces in border and twinning localities. Annual department-level meetings and dialogues continued among criminal police, anti-drug units, and immigration management forces.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Qatari Ambassador Khalid Ali Abdullah Abel on March 17. (Photo: VNA)

PM urges Qatar to step up energy cooperation with Vietnam

Vietnam stands ready to work with Qatar and contribute to broader efforts to promote peace and stability, stressing the principles of solidarity to build strength, cooperation to mobilise resources and dialogue to foster trust.

An overview of the first meeting of the Central Theory Council on March 17 (Photo: VNA)

Central Theory Council for 2026–2031 term holds first meeting

Political theory research in the new era must be grounded in clear political orientation while closely linked to practical realities and concrete actions. Social sciences and theoretical studies can no longer remain detached and wait for retrospective evaluations as in the past, but must accompany technological development in real time.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives UAE Ambassador to Vietnam Bader Abdullah Almatrooshi in Hanoi on March 17, 2026. Photo: VNA

PM pushes forward energy cooperation with UAE after high-level talks

Vietnam–UAE relations have continued to grow, with the UAE now Vietnam’s largest trading partner in the Middle East and a potential investor. For Vietnam, the UAE is not only an important economic partner but also a sincere and reliable friend sharing common values of peace, cooperation, and prosperity.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) receives Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki on March 17. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister calls on Japan to support Vietnam’s energy security

The PM proposed that the ambassador raise voice to help facilitate Vietnam’s access, through appropriate forms, to part of the 80 million barrels of oil that Japan is considering releasing from its reserves to mitigate the impact of Middle East tensions on fuel prices.

Le Hoai Nam, head of the liaison board of the Vietnamese community in South Africa (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese community in South Africa confident in 16th NA’s leadership

Regarding the fact that this year’s election of deputies to the NA and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 tenure is held two months earlier than usual, a representative of the Vietnamese community in South Africa said that as Vietnam enters a new stage of development with many major goals, organising the election earlier is a proactive and strategic move.

The atmosphere during voting for deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils for the 2026–2031 term at Polling Station No. 20, Brigade 957, Naval Region 4, in Khanh Hoa. (Photo: VNA)

Final results of 16th NA election expected on March 22

Local authorities are currently compiling and verifying election data before submitting their reports to the council, which will meet on on March 22 to review the figures and announce the official election results, Tran Thanh Man, Chairman of the NA and President of the Vietnam National Election Council, said.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (centre) and the Vietnamese and Chinese ministers of foreign affairs, national defence and public security at the meeting in Hanoi on March 16. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam places top priority on ties with China: PM

PM Pham Minh Chinh asked the foreign affairs, defence and public security ministries of both countries to play a more proactive role in unceasingly strengthening political trust and mutual understanding between the two Parties, countries and peoples, and in making full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the 3+3 strategic dialogue.

Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man speaks at the fourth meeting of the NA Party Committee for the 2025–2030 term in Hanoi on March 16. (Photo: VNA)

Institutional, legal reform key strategic breakthrough for development: NA Chairman

Chairing the fourth meeting of the NA Party Committee for the 2025–2030 term in Hanoi on March 16, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man, who is also Secretary of the NA Party Committee, said the legislature must play a pivotal role in building and perfecting development institutions as Vietnam enters a new stage of strong, comprehensive and sustainable development.