President To Lam's State Visits to Russia and France: Strategic Relations and International Cooperation

Vietnamese President To Lam has commenced a significant diplomatic agenda with state visits to the Russian Federation and official visits to the French Republic, along with attending a Space Summit. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang shared with the press the objectives, significance, and expectations of this tour. Creating New Momentum for Vietnam-Russia Relations A New Milestone in Vietnam-Russia Relations President To Lam, accompanied by his spouse, will pay a state visit to the Russian Federation and an official visit to the French Republic. Enhancing Bilateral Relations with France The visit to Russia is anticipated to mark a new milestone in bilateral relations. Vietnam and Russia have long-standing, robust ties in political, economic, and security domains. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signed in 2012, forms the bedrock of their relationship. This visit aims to further deepen this partnership, particularly by enhancing cooperation in economy, energy, and defense. Vietnam views its relationship with Russia as a key pillar for strengthening its international standing and pursuing balanced diplomacy amidst a multipolar global landscape. The official visit to France presents an opportunity to further solidify Vietnam's relations with a key European Union member state. Vietnam and France have been deepening their cooperation not only in traditional areas such as culture and education but also in emerging sectors like climate change response and space exploration. This visit is expected to advance specific cooperative projects for the further development of bilateral relations and facilitate exchanges of views on regional and global issues. France is a crucial partner for Vietnam in expanding access to the EU market and introducing advanced technologies and investments. President To Lam's visits to Russia and France clearly demonstrate Vietnam's strategic approach to building relationships with diverse nations, guided by its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development. In the current international climate, marked by US-China tensions, Vietnam aims to maximize its national interests by maintaining and developing friendly relations with various countries without leaning towards any single power. This tour is considered significant in enhancing Vietnam's influence and voice in the international community.