Hanoi, September 17, 2025 — The Europe Today: Party General Secretary Tô Lâm on Tuesday received Nikolai Patrusev, Aide to the President of Russia and Chairman of the Maritime Board of Russia, who is on an official visit to Vietnam from September 15–18.
Welcoming the Russian delegation, General Secretary Lâm expressed his pleasure at meeting once again with Nikolai Patrusev, describing him as a long-time friend and comrade. He recalled their warm and substantive discussions during his official visit to Russia in May, noting that the current visit provides a concrete demonstration of the growing bilateral relationship and efforts to implement high-level agreements reached between the two countries.
The Party leader underlined that Vietnam aims to become a strong maritime nation, actively contributing to peace, security, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. He proposed that Russia, with its extensive maritime experience, enhance cooperation with Vietnam in line with the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
General Secretary Lâm highlighted positive developments in bilateral relations across all areas and called for closer cooperation in maritime policy research, ocean science, infrastructure development, shipping routes, logistics, and human resource training. He also urged Russian support in helping Việt Nam sustainably manage and utilise its maritime space in a way that serves both nations’ interests while fostering regional peace and stability.
For his part, Patrusev affirmed that Russia considers its comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam one of its most important in the Asia-Pacific region. He briefed the host on the outcomes of his meetings with Vietnamese ministries and agencies, stressing that cooperation in maritime affairs, though relatively new, carries great potential. Patrusev also noted that this collaboration reflects commitments made during General Secretary Lâm’s May 2025 visit to Russia and aligns with the Joint Statement on major directions for bilateral relations.
He further confirmed Russia’s readiness to cooperate in developing international shipping routes and utilizing Vietnam’s deep-water ports as international logistics hubs, serving mutual interests as well as those of Southeast Asia and the global community.
Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation under the Việt Nam–Russia Tropical Centre and to expand joint efforts in scientific research, advanced technologies, and new materials development. These steps, they affirmed, would lay a solid foundation for elevating bilateral relations to new heights.
General Secretary Lâm expressed support for Russia’s role in Southeast Asia and called on Moscow to back Việt Nam’s and ASEAN’s positions on the East Sea issue, in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
On this occasion, Patrusev presented General Secretary Lâm with the “For Cooperation in Maritime Affairs” Medal in recognition of his contributions to the Vietnam–Russia comprehensive strategic partnership and his guidance in strengthening bilateral maritime cooperation.
