Vietnam's Top Leader Strengthens Diplomatic Ties on Europe, Asia Tour

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam has embarked on a tour of Europe and Asia, including official visits to France and Russia and attendance at the International Space Summit, reinforcing Vietnam's diplomatic network. This tour is positioned as part of Vietnam's foreign policy, emphasizing independence, self-reliance, multilateralism, and diversification. In France, a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed the deepening of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Cooperation in the defense sector, in particular, was noted to be progressing steadily across various areas, including high-level delegation exchanges, strategic dialogue, military medicine, education and training, UN peacekeeping operations, maritime cooperation, and the defense industry. General Secretary and President To Lam also met with Fabien Roussel, Secretary of the French Communist Party (PCF), expressing hope for the PCF's continued contributions to fostering political trust and promoting cooperation between the two nations. In Russia, a meeting with President Vladimir Putin reiterated Vietnam's stance of prioritizing its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with the country. Scientific and technological cooperation, in particular, has yielded practical results through initiatives such as the operation of the Joint Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Centre and the establishment of a new laboratory for infectious disease prevention and control. In trade cooperation, the need for further breakthroughs was agreed upon, considering the potential and complementary strengths of the two economies. During his stay in Moscow, General Secretary and President To Lam was honored with the Lev Tolstoy International Peace Prize, recognizing his contributions to peace and cooperation between the two nations. Furthermore, in Mongolia, National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man sought to strengthen bilateral relations through a meeting with the Speaker of the State Great Hural (Parliament). In South Korea, National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man also met with leaders of major South Korean conglomerates investing in Vietnam, aiming to deepen economic cooperation. These visits reflect Vietnam's strategy to diversify its relations with regional and international partners and maximize its national interests. Information Source: VietnamPlus English