According to reports from Vietnamese media, including VnExpress, Prime Minister Le Minh Khai and President Vladimir Putin agreed during the Russia-ASEAN summit held in Kazan on June 17-18 to accelerate negotiations for the early development of the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power project. They clearly defined energy cooperation as a core pillar of their comprehensive strategic partnership and committed to expanding collaboration in the nuclear and oil and gas sectors.
The leaders assessed that Vietnam and Russia's cooperation is poised for new growth opportunities and discussed specific measures to strengthen their long-term collaborative foundation. They agreed to expedite negotiations for the Ninh Thuan 1 project and to implement energy cooperation according to previously established schedules.
Previously, Russia has regarded Vietnam as one of its most important partners and a close ally in the region. President Putin noted that Vietnam plays a crucial role as a bridge between Russia and ASEAN, and that political trust between the two nations has strengthened, enabling expanded cooperation across various fields.
Prime Minister Le Minh Khai emphasized that the Vietnamese leadership considers Russia a top priority in its foreign policy. He explained that relevant agencies are already preparing implementation plans to concretely fulfill agreements reached during the visit of Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President, to Russia last May.
Expanding Trade and Security Cooperation
Economic cooperation was also a key agenda item during the discussions. The two nations set a goal to rapidly increase their trade volume to $15 billion (approximately 23 trillion VND) and agreed to enhance collaboration in mining, transportation, shipbuilding, railway modernization, and the establishment of international logistics networks. They also discussed expanding international multimodal railway routes and transport corridors through China.
Prime Minister Le Minh Khai requested that Russia improve market access for Vietnamese agricultural products. He called for the lifting of import restrictions currently applied to some seafood processing companies and the expansion of export eligibility to member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). He also requested a review of the safeguard measures applied to Vietnamese textiles and footwear products through the revision of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EAEU.
The two countries defined defense and security cooperation as a strategic core and agreed to further enhance cybersecurity collaboration and military personnel exchanges. They also expressed a commitment to deepen cooperation in science and technology, education, transportation, culture, and tourism.
Discussions also included plans to expand tourism and people-to-people exchanges. President Putin expressed hope for increased Russian language education in Southeast Asian countries and emphasized continued support for Vietnamese students. The two nations agreed to pursue the opening of a Vietnamese cultural center in Russia, the establishment of a Russian school in Hanoi, and the hosting of a Russian cultural season in Vietnam in 2027. Additionally, Prime Minister Le Minh Khai officially invited President Putin to the APEC summit to be held in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, in 2027.
Moreover, Prime Minister Le Minh Khai attended a luncheon meeting on "Asia-Europe Integration" hosted by President Putin, along with other ASEAN leaders. The participating countries emphasized that the Eurasian region accounts for 25% of global GDP and over 15% of international trade, agreeing on the need to further enhance cooperation in energy, logistics, and trade.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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