The meeting took place as part of the state visit to the Russian Federation by the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Dmitry Chernyshenko: Relations between our countries, Russia and Vietnam, are developing in the spirit of a strategic and comprehensive partnership. This is due in no small part to the personal relationship that has developed between President To Lam and President Vladimir Putin. They are in frequent contact, meet regularly and exchange state visits.
Last year, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin also paid an official visit to Vietnam, during which a very important document was signed: a plan for developing economic, humanitarian and cultural ties until 2030. As part of the implementation of this plan, 2026 has been designated the Year of Education and Science. A large number of events are currently taking place. Over 500 agreements have been signed as part of cooperation between our scientific and educational institutions. A scientific and educational forum is being held in Moscow to coincide with Comrade To Lam’s visit.
Our cooperation is developing across many areas. One of the flagship elements of the programme is cooperation with the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Centre, which brings together more than 50 research organisations. Quite recently, the Russian research vessel Professor Gagarinsky was handed over to the Vietnamese side. It is now conducting research alongside other scientific vessels. There are also many other valuable scientific programmes.
We have a long-standing tradition of cooperation in education. Soviet education was highly regarded in Vietnam, as is Russian education today. Many Vietnamese leaders studied in our country, and their children and grandchildren are now continuing their education here. Vietnamese students probably make up the largest group of foreign students in Russia, with more than 3,000 currently studying here.
The Russian language is also popular in Vietnam. The Pushkin Russian Language Centre is operating effectively, providing Vietnamese children with the opportunity to learn Russian.
A decision has been taken to build a Russian-Vietnamese school in Hanoi, on the site where the Soviet Union previously had a technical centre. A modern comprehensive school will be built in central Hanoi, offering qualifications recognised in both Vietnam and Russia.
And, of course, there are significant prospects for economic cooperation. One of the fastest-growing areas of cooperation is undoubtedly tourism. Last year, the number of visits between our countries increased several-fold, reaching more than 450,000. In the first half of this year alone, we have already recorded more than 670,000 visits. This has also been supported by the large number of regular flights between Russia and Vietnam, not only from Moscow but from other Russian cities as well. More than 15 regular flights between our countries are helping to support this flow of tourists.
This is, of course, also a reflection of our warm relations and of the fact that Russian tourists can use Russian payment systems in Vietnam, including rapid payment platforms.
Most payments between our countries are made in national currencies. Economic ties continue to strengthen and expand. The fact that Russia is undertaking a major project to build nuclear power plants in Vietnam is testament to the scale of our economic cooperation.
Last year, trade between our countries exceeded $6 billion. In the first half of this year, we saw growth of around 14 percent. We are firmly on course to achieve the target set by our leaders of increasing bilateral trade to $15 billion by 2030.
We will continue to strengthen our strategic and comprehensive partnership and cooperation. I am confident that we will achieve our goals.
