Party General Secretary, State President To Lam to Visit Russia and France, Attend Space Summit

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, accompanied by his spouse and a high-ranking delegation, will embark on state visits to Russia and France from September 7 to 12. These visits are in response to invitations from Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron. During his stay in Paris, President To Lam is also scheduled to attend the Space Summit. Vietnam and Russia share a long-standing traditional friendship, which was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2012. Bilateral trade between the two nations reached $4.77 billion in 2025, a 4% increase from the previous year, with Vietnam exporting approximately $2.3 billion and importing over $2.5 billion from Russia. Russia holds 223 investment projects in Vietnam totaling about $996 million, ranking 28th among investing nations. Conversely, Vietnam has 19 investment projects in Russia valued at $1.64 billion, making it the fourth-largest destination for Vietnamese outbound investment. With France, relations were upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2024. Total bilateral trade reached roughly $6.3 billion in 2025, showing solid growth. France ranks 16th among foreign investors in Vietnam with 746 projects valued at approximately $4 billion. Vietnam has 20 active investment projects in France with a total registered capital of $38.78 million. This tour is expected to provide an opportunity for Vietnam to further deepen its economic and strategic ties with Russia, a traditional ally, and France, a key European nation. The attendance at the Space Summit specifically highlights Vietnam's interest in international cooperation in science and technology.