Petr Tsvetov: Passing on Future of Russia-Vietnam Friendship to the Younger Generation
	New Momentum for the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

The event was attended by President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Phan Anh Son; Deputy Minister of Justice and President of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association Phan Chi Hieu; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Vietnam Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko; Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of Saint Petersburg (Russia) Evgeny Grigoriev; as well as representatives from ministries, agencies, mass organizations, localities, intellectual circles, scholars, businesses, and people’s organizations of both countries.

The event was jointly organized by the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, the Committee for External Relations of Saint Petersburg, the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association, the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association, and the Fund on the promotion of the development of Vietnam-Russia cooperation "Tradition and Friendship".

Delegates attend the Ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation and the inauguration of the First Vietnam-Russia People’s Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

People’s Dialogue: Foundation for Vietnam-Russia Understanding and Cooperation

In his address, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha highly appreciated the initiative of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, the Committee for External Relations of Saint Petersburg, and the friendship associations of the two countries in launching and convening the First Vietnam-Russia People’s Forum. He emphasized that this was not only a practical contribution of people-to-people diplomacy to the implementation of the orientations of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership but also the opening of a new chapter, an effective dialogue mechanism to further deepen mutual understanding and trust between the peoples of Vietnam and Russia.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha delivers remarks at the Ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation and the inauguration of the First Vietnam-Russia People’s Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha affirmed that the enduring friendship between the two peoples is a special relationship with deep historical roots, forged through the trials of time and nurtured by generations of leaders and citizens of both nations. He recalled the historic milestone of 1923 when leader Nguyen Ai Quoc set foot in Petrograd (now Saint Petersburg), marking the beginning of the historic bond between the two peoples. During the resistance war against colonialism, the Soviet Union was among the first countries to recognize Vietnam (1950), contributing intellectual resources, youth, and soldiers to support Vietnam in its struggle for independence. That friendship continued to shine in national reconstruction, with landmark projects such as Thang Long Bridge, Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant, and the Vietsovpetro oil and gas joint venture.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, few nations hold as profound a place in the hearts of the Vietnamese people as Russia and its people. This sentiment has shaped the distinctiveness and enduring vitality of Vietnam-Russia relations. Such affection extends beyond the realms of politics or economics; it reflects a harmony of spirit, a connection of cultures, and a shared reverence for noble human values cherished by both peoples.

He stressed that profound strategic trust and steadfast loyalty form the solid foundation for both countries to jointly open a new era of cooperation, more comprehensive and vigorous than ever before. Vietnam has always attached great importance to and identified the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Russia as one of its foremost priorities in foreign policy.

Building on key agreements reached during recent high-level visits, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha stated that the two countries will continue to strongly advance cooperation pillars. In the economic sphere, they will effectively harness the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union, expand investment in areas of mutual strength, and build on the successes of Vietsovpetro, Rusvietpetro, and other joint ventures. In energy, science, and technology, cooperation will focus on developing oil and gas joint ventures, moving toward renewable energy and nuclear technology centers, and promoting the role of the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center. Defense and security will remain a special and reliable pillar of cooperation, contributing to regional and global peace and stability. In education and training, human resource development will serve as a driving force and a bridge of friendship. Vietnam will continue sending 1,000 students annually to study in Russia, a figure that, he suggested, should be further increased in the fields of science, technology, and the arts.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha highly valued the role of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association, the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association, and other people’s organizations of both countries in nurturing bilateral relations. He expressed confidence that the Vietnam-Russia People’s Forum would become an important dialogue mechanism, where people from all walks of life, intellectuals, scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, and especially the young generations of both countries, can meet, exchange, share, and propose new initiatives.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Vietnam Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko delivers remarks at the event. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

In his congratulatory address, Ambassador Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko stated that Russia attaches great importance to people-to-people diplomacy, grounded in voluntarism and equality. He emphasized that this form of diplomacy unleashes the creative potential of the people, fosters grassroots initiatives, and connects nations and peoples, thereby contributing to a more stable and secure world. People-to-people diplomacy, he noted, complements the work of official diplomatic agencies by providing flexibility in decision-making and by bringing practical substance to bilateral cooperation programs.

The Ambassador underscored the crucial role of friendship associations in linking scientific, cultural, educational, youth, women’s, trade union, and business organizations of both countries, thus reinforcing the traditional friendship and the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia. He expressed confidence that the Forum would help maintain an atmosphere of friendship, trust, and mutual understanding, making Vietnam-Russia relations increasingly effective and sustainable.

Opportunities for Connection and Cooperation

In his opening remarks at the First Vietnam-Russia People’s Forum, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son highlighted the significance of holding the Forum on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He stressed that the Forum was an opportunity to proudly look back on and deeply assess the 75-year journey, affirming the values and fundamental principles of Vietnam-Russia friendship, solidarity, and mutual support. It also provides a platform to discuss measures to promote people-to-people exchanges, strengthen mutual understanding and trust, enhance awareness of each other’s social life, and establish cooperation among organizations, businesses, and associations. The Forum will further explore existing and potential areas of cooperation, with people-to-people diplomacy serving as a bridge in science and technology, healthcare, economy and trade, tourism, culture, education, the arts, and local-level exchanges.

President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son delivers the opening speech at the First Vietnam-Russia People’s Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

He stressed that this was also an opportunity to gain deeper insights into the land, people, and culture of both Vietnam and Russia, thereby enabling localities, people’s organizations, associations, businesses, intellectuals, and youth of the two countries to broaden connections. In the thematic sessions, the organizers hoped to hear assessments and recommendations from experts and delegates on potential areas of cooperation that could be pursued to contribute more actively to the special friendship and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation, for the benefit of both peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. He expressed confidence that the exchanges would be lively, creative, and yield many feasible ideas, helping to consolidate and further deepen the traditional friendship while advancing Vietnam-Russia relations in a new era.

As part of the program, speakers presented papers on the theme “75 Years of Vietnam-Russia Diplomatic Relations: History, Current Realities, and Prospects for Cooperation.” Delegates emphasized the bridging role of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association, the authorities of Saint Petersburg, businesses, and the Vietnamese community in Russia in promoting comprehensive cooperation across multiple fields, ranging from economy, education, and culture to science and technology. They also proposed mechanisms for connectivity, direct investment, youth exchanges, digital economy development, and education for younger generations, with the aim of further deepening the long-standing friendship and lasting cooperation between Vietnam and Russia.

Deputy Minister of Justice and President of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association Phan Chi Hieu delivers a presentation at the Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Deputy Minister of Justice and President of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association Phan Chi Hieu recalled that the Association’s predecessor - the Vietnam-Soviet Union Friendship Association was founded in 1950. Over the past 75 years, the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association has served as a bridge connecting the peoples of the two countries, from mobilizing support for Vietnam during the resistance wars to promoting economic, cultural, educational, and scientific cooperation during the periods of renewal and integration.

Entering a new stage, the Association has identified several key tasks: thoroughly implementing and effectively carrying out the people-to-people diplomacy guidelines of the Party and State; aligning closely with the orientation of the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through 2030; strengthening organizational structures and expanding its network of local chapters with a particular focus on attracting young members; enhancing the effectiveness of the Vietnam-Russia Cooperation Center; renewing methods of operation toward practical, reality-based programs; and promoting exchanges and linkages between localities, organizations, research and training institutions of both countries. The Association also aims to effectively implement the cooperation agreement for the 2025-2030 period.

Evgeny Grigoriev, Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of Saint Petersburg, delivers a presentation at the Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Evgeny Grigoriev, Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of Saint Petersburg, noted that the city’s ties with Vietnam have a long history, linked to the landmark event of 1923 when Nguyen Ai Quoc first set foot in Petrograd. Since August 2020, under the decision of Governor Alexander Beglov, Vietnam has been designated as one of Saint Petersburg’s foreign policy priorities.

He emphasized that the city’s objective is to enhance connections not only at the governmental level but also to expand outreach to the people, social organizations, and youth, as people-to-people diplomacy builds bridges of understanding and mutual respect. In recent years, cooperation has yielded tangible results: young people of the two countries have maintained many annual exchange activities; economic cooperation has expanded in areas such as construction, logistics, industry, and information technology; and cultural exchanges have flourished, including the project to build a memorial monument dedicated to Soviet and Vietnamese experts.

According to Evgeny Grigoriev, direct exchanges among young people, intellectuals, businesses, and cultural communities have fostered an atmosphere of trust and openness, forming a solid foundation for expanding cooperation in diverse areas such as business, tourism, education, and humanitarian work. He stressed that the immediate task is to establish effective mechanisms for regular information and experience sharing, to develop long-term cooperation programs covering key sectors (economy, environment, healthcare, social services, etc.), and to support the younger generation - the force that will inject new vitality into the traditional forms of cooperation between Saint Petersburg and Vietnam.

Chairwoman of the Strategic Council of TH Group Thai Huong delivers a presentation at the Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Hero of Labor Thai Huong, Founder and Chairwoman of the Strategic Council of TH Group, stated that under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin, the Russian government has introduced many consistent and responsible policies to harness internal resources and attract investment. To this day, all programs and supportive policies for TH’s projects have remained intact since the beginning, demonstrating the steadfastness of Russia.

According to her, not only have policies been consistently implemented at the central level, but also the solidarity and coordinated efforts of the federal government, governors, and local agencies have created favorable conditions for the rollout of projects. TH Group has invested in dairy farms and processing plants in Moscow, Kaluga, Primorsky Krai, and Bashkortostan, with two farms in Moscow and Kaluga already in operation. In May 2025, TH inaugurated a fresh milk processing plant in Kaluga, marking a new milestone in its investment strategy in Russia.

Thai Huong noted that the project has reclaimed tens of thousands of hectares of land, transforming them into fields of wheat, grass, corn, and sorghum; created nearly 500 local jobs; and will continue to expand in the future. The next step will be to establish a genetics center and develop high-yield dairy cattle breeds, transferring embryo production and implantation technology from Vietnam, thereby contributing to improving the productivity of Russia’s dairy industry.

Do Xuan Hoang, President of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in the Russian Federation, delivers a presentation at the Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Do Xuan Hoang, President of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in the Russian Federation, said that the current international economic context presents both challenges and opportunities for deepening Vietnam-Russia economic relations. However, to capitalize effectively, cooperation must go beyond trade to strongly promote direct investment. He emphasized that despite the particularly strong political ties and high level of trust between the two countries, bilateral direct investment has yet to match this potential, remaining focused mainly on state-owned projects, while the private sector’s involvement is still limited.

To address this, Do Xuan Hoang proposed studying a unified support mechanism, such as a Consultative Council, involving state agencies, businesses, experts, and social organizations. This mechanism would facilitate direct contacts, share experiences, provide comprehensive information for businesses, and contribute to policy consultation, thereby enabling both countries to present a fuller picture of their investment needs and opportunities.

He highlighted the strong potential for cooperation in the digital economy. Both countries have high demand for digital platforms in payments, trade, logistics, public services, and mobile applications. To advance this sector, it is necessary to strengthen policy experience-sharing, IT workforce training, talent identification, and the establishment of IT Parks offering preferential conditions, including tax and residency incentives.

In addition, Do Xuan Hoang stressed the need for systematic and well-funded cultural exchanges, as these form the social foundation for long-term bilateral relations. He proposed expanding Vietnam studies in Russia and promoting Russian language instruction in Vietnam to ensure a bilingual workforce directly serving socio-economic cooperation.

He also underlined the importance of educating younger generations about historical truths to counter efforts at distortion or revisionism that could cause division and social instability. Finally, he expressed his wish for the Vietnamese community in Russia to contribute to the construction of a monument honoring labor cooperation between Vietnamese workers and Soviet and Russian experts, as a symbol of friendship and a tribute to the tens of thousands of engineers, doctors, teachers, sailors, and geologists who stood side by side with Vietnam during difficult times.

Delegates at the First Vietnam-Russia People’s Forum pose for a commemorative photo. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Vietnam - Russia: Solid Foundation for Advancing Cooperation in New Era On April 24 in Hanoi, the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, in collaboration with the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, held ...

Vietnam - Russia Relations Continue to Substantially Develop on Basis of Trust and Friendship On June 10, the Union of Friendship Organizations in Ho Chi Minh City and the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association of the city held a ...