Vietnam-Russia Sci-Tech Cooperation to Become New Pillar: Top Leader

Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President To Lam stated that Vietnam consistently attaches importance to its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, considering the relationship one of its top priorities in implementing its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, and diversification. He suggested turning sci-tech cooperation into a new pillar of bilateral ties. During his visit to Russia, To Lam met with Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin and Chairman of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) Gennady Zyuganov to discuss strengthening bilateral relations. He also met with delegations from the Russian War Veterans Association and the Russia–Vietnam Friendship Association. Leaders of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and AFK Sistema agreed to promote cooperation in three priority strategic technology areas: green hydrogen, small satellites, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems. In terms of bilateral economic, trade, and investment ties, two-way trade reached US$3.24 billion in the first seven months of 2026, up 12% year-on-year. Vietnam’s exports to Russia totaled US$1.33 billion, while imports amounted to US$1.91 billion. Meanwhile, during his visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), Vietnamese National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man met with Korean Prime Minister Han Seong Sook and Speaker of the National Assembly Cho Jeong-sik, agreeing on measures to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with a focus on economic ties, science and technology, parliamentary cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges. Economic ties between Vietnam and the RoK are deepening, with trade, investment, and production becoming increasingly interconnected, including new investments in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and green energy. Man is also scheduled to visit Mongolia and France, aiming to strengthen Vietnam's relations with these countries. Domestically, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung directed the health sector to resolve supply bottlenecks and establish transparent mechanisms to ensure an adequate supply of medicines and medical equipment at reasonable prices. Furthermore, Hung called for a stronger transformation in Vietnam-Japan investment relations, moving from a conventional investor-host model to a partnership where both sides jointly develop, innovate, produce, and enhance their positions in global value chains.