Vietnam's Top Leader Visits Russia, Boosting Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, To Lam, along with his wife and a high-level delegation, paid a state visit to the Russian Federation at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This visit marks the first state visit to the Russian Federation by Vietnam's top Party and State leader since 1991. It also holds special historical significance for Vietnam-Russia relations, occurring after the successful 14th National Party Congress and the completion of leadership appointments following the elections for the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term. The visit reaffirms Vietnam's commitment to strengthening its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with the Russian Federation in a new era of development. The state visit by General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife to the Russian Federation is expected to set a new milestone and strategic turning point in bilateral cooperation, further deepening the strategic trust and special enduring friendship between Vietnam and Russia. Simultaneously, it will promote cooperation between the two countries in fields such as science-technology, education, energy, oil and gas, culture, tourism, and local cooperation. The visit will also contribute to tightening the relationship between General Secretary and President To Lam and the leaders of the Russian Federation. The Vietnam-Russia friendship, spanning over 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1950, has continued to develop based on fraternity, selfless support, and sincere relations between the peoples of the two countries in the past. The Vietnamese people will never forget the significant and heartfelt assistance from the former Soviet Union and present-day Russia towards Vietnam's struggle for national independence and its cause of national construction and development. On the foundation of traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam and Russia aim to maximize their respective strengths for the new development phase of each nation. Russia considers Vietnam an important partner in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. On May 10, 2025, at the Kremlin in Moscow, General Secretary To Lam held talks with President Vladimir Putin. During the talks, a Joint Statement on the major directions of the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership in the new cooperation period was adopted. The political relations between the two countries are characterized by high trust, and frequent exchanges between top leaders provide strong momentum for the development of their comprehensive strategic partnership. Regular exchanges of delegations at the deputy prime minister, deputy national assembly chair, ministerial, and local leadership levels also occur. In economic cooperation, bilateral trade turnover in the first seven months of 2026 reached $3.24 billion, an increase of 12% compared to the same period in 2025. Vietnam's main exports to Russia include telephones, electronics, textiles, footwear, and agricultural and aquatic products. Key imports include coal, wheat, iron and steel, fertilizers, automobiles, and machinery and equipment. In terms of investment, as of July 2026, Russia has 223 investment projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of approximately $996.4 million, ranking 28th among countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Vietnam has 19 active investment projects in Russia with a total registered capital of $1.64 billion, ranking 4th out of 88 countries and territories where Vietnam invests, including the Rusvietpetro oil joint venture and TH Group's dairy and agricultural projects.