So confirmed scholars in Vladivostok (Russia) when talking about the significance of the visit.
Dr. Alexander Sokolovsky, Chairman of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association in Primorye province, emphasized: "the visit of Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Moscow is necessary". Mr. Sokolovsky assessed that the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries is now very solid, has many prospects and needs to be maintained in regular contact. According to Dr. Alexander Sokolovsky, Russia and Vietnam are making great efforts to promote the development of relations in a substantive direction for the benefit of both sides, however, the two countries need to further promote economic and trade.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc. (Photo: VNA)
For his part, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Artem Lukin, Deputy Scientific Director of the Oriental Institute, Far Eastern Federal University (DVFU), said that the visit of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Russia was an important event in the development of bilateral relations because "this is the first visit of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Russia in his new position and also one of his first foreign trips since he took office last April."
According to Mr. Lukin, the visit shows that Russia is of special importance to Vietnam. For Russia, Vietnam is a special partner and the only country in Southeast Asia that has established a comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia. Mr. Lukin also expressed his wish for further development of economic relations between the two countries. He said that although the bilateral goods exchange turnover is not at a high level, economic cooperation is still in a growth trend and the free trade agreement (FTA) that Vietnam signed with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) 5 years ago is working. He affirmed that the economy will be one of the important topics discussed during the visit of the Vietnamese President to Moscow.
Referring to Vietnamese students studying at DVFU, Mr. Lukin highly appreciated the capacity and qualities of Vietnamese students, and wished that more and more Vietnamese students would study here, as well as more and more Russian students at DVFU come to Vietnam to study. Mr. Lukin said that President Nguyen Xuan Phuc's visit will create conditions to continue promoting bilateral relations, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, because the two countries "have long been close friends and partners".
Meanwhile, Doctor of Politics Evgeny Vlasov, leader of DVFU in charge of international relations, also shared the view that the visit of Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Moscow this time is very important. He noted that in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fact that the President of Vietnam is one of the few leaders to meet directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin this year shows the close bond between the leaders of the two countries and "a certain importance for the development of Russian-Vietnamese relations".
Regarding the content of the dialogue between President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and President Vladimir Putin during this visit, expert Vlasov said that one of the most important issues that will be discussed is the ability to fight the pandemic together and stabilize the situation in the region. Vietnam and Russia can learn and support each other, especially when Russia, with its scientific and technical background, good medical facilities and infrastructure dating back to the Soviet Union, is one of the first countries in the world to develop a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Russia has currently registered four vaccines against COVID-19 and is also very successful in researching drugs to treat this disease. In addition, Mr. Vlasov also mentioned cooperation in the military-technical field and ensuring security and stability in the region.
He affirmed, "Russia and Vietnam are strategic partners and coordinate policies in the region". According to Mr. Vlasov, a very important content of discussion is to further promote and deepen bilateral economic-trade relations. Mr. Vlasov also noted the importance of Vietnam's readiness to assist Russia in accessing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In addition, the development of economic and trade relations between Vietnam and the EAEU also plays an important role in promoting Vietnam - Russia relations.
Mr. Vlasov assessed that the dialogue between the President of the Russian Federation and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc will be a meaningful exchange and will set out detailed plans so that the two sides can improve, update and strengthen bilateral cooperation in the coming time, strengthen the development of relations in the field of trade and economy, consolidate military-technical cooperation to ensure security in the region, and cooperation on epidemiological security in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic./.