Moscow, June 19, 2026 – The Europe Today: Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on June 18, on the sidelines of the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit and bilateral engagements aimed at strengthening Vietnam–Russia relations.
President Putin thanked the Vietnamese delegation for its close coordination and active contribution to the success of the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit, marking the 35th anniversary of relations between Russia and ASEAN.
He described Vietnam as one of Russia’s most important partners and a trusted friend in the region, highlighting its role as a key bridge to ASEAN and an important driver of Russia’s cooperation initiatives in Southeast Asia. He also praised the steady deepening of political trust between the two countries, calling it a solid foundation for expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.
Recalling his recent meetings with Vietnamese leaders, President Putin conveyed his best regards to General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President Tô Lâm, as well as other senior officials. He expressed confidence that Prime Minister Hưng and the new Vietnamese government would continue working closely with Russia to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng expressed pleasure at visiting Russia in his new capacity and conveyed greetings from General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm and other Vietnamese leaders to President Putin. He congratulated Russia on the successful hosting of the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit, noting that it had contributed to substantive and mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and ASEAN member states.
He reaffirmed that Russia remains one of Vietnam’s most important foreign policy partners and stressed that despite complex global developments, traditional Vietnam–Russia friendship continues to expand across various fields. He also underscored Vietnam’s commitment to working closely with Russia to implement agreements reached between the two countries’ top leaders, further elevating bilateral relations.
Both sides agreed to advance concrete plans following General Secretary Tô Lâm’s visit to Russia in May 2025 and to ensure regular progress reviews for effective implementation of agreed outcomes.
During the talks, the two leaders discussed practical measures to generate breakthroughs in bilateral cooperation, strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and support development priorities of both countries. They agreed to maintain regular, substantive dialogue at all levels, including sustained high-level exchanges on bilateral and international issues.
Defence and security cooperation was reaffirmed as a key pillar of bilateral relations, with both sides agreeing to enhance collaboration in cybersecurity and expand military-to-military exchanges.
Energy cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, with both leaders agreeing to accelerate negotiations for the early implementation of the Ninh Thuận 1 Nuclear Power Plant project. They reiterated that cooperation in oil and gas and nuclear energy remains a strategic pillar of the partnership and should proceed in line with agreed frameworks.
The two sides also outlined expanded cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, education, transport, culture, and tourism. Both leaders expressed their intention to raise bilateral trade to US$15 billion in the near future.
They agreed to strengthen cooperation in mining, shipbuilding, railway modernisation, and the development of international transport corridors, including intermodal rail links through China.
Prime Minister Hưng called for improved market access for Vietnamese agricultural products in Russia, removal of restrictions on Vietnamese seafood processing facilities, and expansion of eligible exporters to Russia and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) markets. He also proposed discussions on amending the Vietnam–EAEU Free Trade Agreement, including the removal of safeguard measures on Vietnamese textile, garment, and footwear exports.
On cultural and people-to-people cooperation, President Putin expressed support for expanding Russian language education in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, and reaffirmed continued assistance for Vietnamese students in Russia. Both sides agreed to promote tourism exchanges, establish a Vietnamese Cultural Centre in Russia, consider a Russian school in Hanoi, and organise a Russian Cultural Season in Vietnam in 2027.
On this occasion, Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng invited President Vladimir Putin to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week to be held in Phú Quốc, Vietnam, in 2027, expressing confidence that his participation would contribute to strengthening regional cooperation, peace, and stability.
