Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Russian-Vietnamese diplomatic relations, Moscow, February 11, 2025

Mr Ambassador,

Colleagues,

Friends,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the inauguration of this exhibition commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

I extend my gratitude to the leadership and staff of the Department of History and Records and the Third Asian Department of the Foreign Ministry for their highly professional work in organising today’s event. The exhibition features unique documents and photographs chronicling pivotal moments in our bilateral relations.

On January 30, 1950, Soviet Foreign Minister Andrey Vyshinsky dispatched a note to his Vietnamese counterpart, Hoang Minh Giam, confirming the USSR Government’s decision to establish diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (the state’s name at the time). Our nation was among the very first to undertake this step – recognised and established diplomatic relations.

The friendship and mutual affinity between our peoples have withstood the test of time, remaining impervious to political expediency. We take pride in having supported heroic Vietnam during both its struggle for freedom and independence, as well as during peaceful construction.

In turn, we cherish the memory of Vietnamese volunteers who fought in the Battle of Moscow in 1941–1942. Last August’s unveiling of a monument in their honour stands as vivid testament to this. We anticipate Vietnamese leadership representatives will join celebrations for the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Over 75 years, Russia-Vietnam relations have evolved significantly. At present, they have attained the status of a comprehensive strategic partnership resting on trust-based political dialogue, particularly at the highest level. The state visit of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin to Vietnam in June 2024, alongside the official visit of Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man to the Russian Federation in September 2024 provided substantial momentum to multi-vector cooperation. A productive exchange of views occurred between the Russian head of state and Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Tinh in October 2024, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan.

The further development of practical cooperation will also be facilitated by the implementation of agreements reached during the talks between Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and the Vietnamese leadership in Hanoi.

Our parliamentarians contribute substantially to bilateral engagement. Close ties exist between political parties, public organisations, and regions of Russia and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Cooperation in the fuel and energy sector continues to play a key role in the development of trade and economic collaboration. For nearly 45 years, the Vietsovpetro joint venture has been the driving force behind this sector. Leading domestic companies, Gazprom and Zarubezhneft, in conjunction with the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam), have effectively developed hydrocarbon deposits in Russia and on the continental shelf of Vietnam.

The implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, bolsters bilateral trade.

Our nations are closely cooperating in the field of science. A notable example is the activities of the Joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technology Centre, which addresses a wide range of topics in ecology, tropical medicine, and materials science. A large-scale project to construct a nuclear science and technology centre is being implemented in Vietnam with the assistance of the Rosatom State Corporation.

Educational and cultural exchanges expand. Vietnamese students and postgraduates – future highly qualified specialists – study across various Russian institutions. This year, Russian universities have allocated 1,000 places for Vietnamese citizens.

Close constructive cooperation with Vietnam has been established within the framework of international organisations, primarily the UN. It is based on a significant convergence of positions on most issues on the global and regional agenda.

The further strengthening of Russian-Vietnamese relations allows us not only to reflect proudly on the past but to face the future with optimism. Their further enhancement serves our peoples’ interests and promotes security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

To mark this 75th anniversary, we have prepared an extensive programme of commemorative events, including Days of Russian and Vietnamese Culture and performances by Vietnamese artists in Russia.