Vietnam – Russia: New heights of comprehensive strategic cooperation

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Russian President V. Putin before talks in Sochi

"In my opinion, it is a very strong restoration of the traditional relationship between the two peoples. That is in spirit. As for other aspects, Vietnam - Russia economic cooperation will be promoted many times more strongly if the economic triangles of Russia - China - Vietnam and Russia - SEAN - Vietnam are established. This is something that the US and the West really do not want."

That was the comment of Vietnamese international relations experts to Sputnik about the results of Vietnam-Russia negotiations within the framework of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to the Russian Federation from September 5-8.

On the afternoon of September 6 (local time), in Sochi city, after concluding their talks, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vladimir Putin witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation documents between the two sides and spoke to the press. Vietnam and the Russian Federation have signed nearly 20 cooperation documents in many fields. Sputnik correspondents had an interview with two Vietnamese experts on international relations and recorded their comments.

-In your opinion, what is the most important result and greatest success of the Vietnam - Russia negotiations this time?

Colonel Nguyen Minh Tam -Expert on international political and military issues:

In my opinion, it is a very strong restoration of the traditional relationship between the two peoples, although it is no longer a comrade relationship. That is in spirit. As for other aspects, Vietnam-Russia economic cooperation will be promoted many times more strongly if the economic triangles of Russia-China-Vietnam and Russia-ASEAN-Vietnam are established. This is something that the US and the West do not want.

The greatest success of the meeting between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vladimir Putin in particular and the visit to the Russian Federation by the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation in general is to further promote the comprehensive strategic partnership.

A series of cooperation documents in the fields of financial and monetary security, science and technology, energy, agriculture and culture and sports were signed. Among them are many areas of deeper bilateral cooperation such as: Protocol amending and supplementing the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center; Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam and Rosatom Corporation on cooperation in training human resources in the field of atomic energy for peaceful purposes; Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam and the National Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom" on orienting public opinion towards the project of the Nuclear Science and Technology Center.

In particular, the Nuclear Science and Technology Key Project is of great importance not only to the science, technology and energy sectors but also to national defense and security.

Professor, Dr. Nguyen Canh Toan -International Affairs Expert:

In my opinion, the most important result is the strategic trust between two loyal, trustworthy friends who never betray each other. The Vietnam - Russian Federation Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has not only been strongly reaffirmed but also raised to a new level.

Both sides agreed and were determined to deepen and accelerate cooperation to be stronger, more substantial and more effective, especially closer relations in military, security, energy, science and technology and high technology with Vietnam, including military technical cooperation - a field that holds a special position in the overall relationship between Vietnam and the Russian Federation, focusing on projects with high technology content. Russia will be considered a priority partner in the field of building Vietnam's nuclear energy industry.

In addition, Russia and Vietnam will closely coordinate to protect the principles of justice, continue to build the principles of justice and truth in international affairs, coordinate actions in international organizations, mainly at the United Nations; The two sides also agreed to carefully prepare activities within the framework of the "cross" year 2019 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2020. In particular, the two sides also affirmed the great contributions of the Vietnamese community working and studying in the Russian Federation and the Russian community working and studying in Vietnam to the development of bilateral relations.

- What is new and outstanding according to the results of this negotiation between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Russian President Vladimir Putin?

Professor, Dr. Nguyen Canh Toan -International Affairs Expert:

The visit to Russia by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at a time of tension in international relations and the results of the negotiations clearly show that military-security cooperation between Vietnam and the Russian Federation will be closer, deeper, and more practical. And it can be said that Vietnam shares the same views with Russia on international issues. This is very important, because in fact other strategic partners are also taking advantage of Vietnam on the above two issues.

Russian President Vladimir Putin witnessed the signing ceremony after talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong. From right to left - Russian Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Grigory Trubnikov and Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defense Be Xuan Truong.

Colonel Nguyen Minh Tam -Expert on international political and military issues:

The results of this negotiation show that for the first time, the two sides have reached detailed and specific agreements in new areas of cooperation. For example, the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation betweenThe State Bank of Vietnam and the Central Bank of Russia on information exchange and cooperation in the field of payment system supervision. This opens up a trend that the two sides will gradually use each other's domestic currencies reasonably for payments, reducing the influence of the US dollar.

Second, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the supply of liquefied natural gas and the development of gas-fired thermal power in Vietnam. This document opens a new direction for the Vietnamese electricity industry when coal resources are gradually depleting and the ability to develop hydropower has almost reached its limit.

Third, the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between Gazprom, the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and the People's Committee of Quang Tri Province. Based on this document, it can be predicted that an oil and gas industrial project will be implemented in Quang Tri.

In addition, documents on strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture and rural development, the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Rosscongress Foundation, the Russian Federation, etc. will create conditions for Vietnam to participate more deeply in the Russian market in particular and the markets of countries in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in general.

Another new point is that the Agreement between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of Russia on cooperation in the field of ensuring international information security has been upgraded and expanded in scope compared to the previous memorandum. This helps the two sides have conditions to cooperate more closely not only in ensuring information security but also in fighting against information wars, fighting hackers as well as ensuring information confidentiality for each other.

From right to left - Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Bank for Economic Cooperation (MBEC) Denis Ivanov and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saigon-Hanoi Joint Stock Commercial Bank Do Quang Hien.

Bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear science has progressed on a more certain path compared to the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project which was stopped.

Regarding the East Sea issue in particular and the current complicated international relations in general, although there was no document mentioning it, in the joint press conference, the two sides shared the same view on the necessity of resolving disputes by peaceful means, without using force or threatening to use force, on the basis of the principles of international law, UNCLOSS -1982, and the United Nations Charter. Vietnam supports Russia in strengthening its role in ensuring security, peace, stability and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, Southeast Asia and the world.

This is contrary to the view of Washington and some other forces that want to solve the problem by threatening to use military force.