With a series of breakthrough cooperation outcomes, the trip marked new milestones and strategic shifts in relations while expanding the scope of cooperation between Viet Nam and Russia and France, both Comprehensive Strategic Partners of Viet Nam. The trip also brought the role of head-of-state diplomacy into full play, helping mobilise valuable resources from relations with these partners for the country’s development in the new era.
The historic trip drew considerable attention and high praise from international experts, scholars and media. It was the first State visit to the Russian Federation by the head of the Vietnamese Party and State since 1991. It also marked the second time the head of the Vietnamese Party and State had attended an international event hosted by France, particularly significant as the event was the world’s first space conference held at the level of heads of state. These important milestones underscored Viet Nam’s special emphasis on further deepening its Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with Russia and France, while strengthening the close personal ties between General Secretary and President To Lam and the leaders of the two friendly countries.
More than 75 years of relations have demonstrated the enduring vitality of Viet Nam–Russia ties despite the vast geographical distance and profound changes in the global landscape. The talks and meetings during General Secretary and President To Lam’s visit to Russia took place in an atmosphere of traditional friendship, sincerity, closeness and trust. Russian leaders affirmed that Viet Nam has always been a reliable partner and a priority in Russia’s policy towards the Asia-Pacific region.
A major highlight was the issuance of a Joint Statement on further strengthening the Viet Nam–Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the new period. The statement affirmed the two sides’ agreement to develop their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the basis of a high degree of political and strategic trust, underpinned by balanced and sustainable economic, trade and investment ties.
Defence and security cooperation will serve as a strategic pillar; energy and oil and gas cooperation as a strategic breakthrough; science and technology, innovation and human resources as key drivers; and culture and people-to-people exchanges as bridges connecting the two peoples. The partnership will also be capable of adapting to changes in the international environment and delivering tangible benefits to the people, localities and businesses of both countries.
Notably, during his State visit to the Russian Federation, General Secretary and President To Lam was presented with the 2026 Lev Tolstoy International Peace Prize. The award represents recognition of his contributions to consolidating peace and promoting cooperation and mutual understanding among peoples, while helping spread Viet Nam’s tradition of peace, humanistic values and spirit of dialogue around the world.
Upon graciously accepting the award named after the great writer Lev Tolstoy, General Secretary and President To Lam affirmed that Viet Nam would continue working with the international community to promote dialogue, strengthen mutual understanding and trust, and resolve differences and disputes by peaceful means on the basis of the United Nations Charter and international law, for a world of peace, stability and sustainable development.
In France, French leaders and people accorded General Secretary and President To Lam, his spouse and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation a solemn and warm welcome.
During talks and meetings with General Secretary and President To Lam, French leaders all expressed the special importance they attached to the visit and to the Viet Nam–France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The documents reached during the visit, including a Joint Statement on advancing the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, have injected fresh momentum into bilateral relations, paving the way for increasingly comprehensive, robust and substantive cooperation.
Sharing his long-term vision for Viet Nam–France relations, General Secretary and President To Lam noted that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework has opened a promising new journey for the two countries, founded on solid trust, a shared strategic vision and strong determination. The time has now come for both sides to take breakthrough action to bring economic cooperation to new heights.
In that spirit, the visit opened up important opportunities to connect France’s strengths with Viet Nam’s emerging development needs. With a high degree of consensus between the two countries’ leaders, science and technology cooperation has officially been elevated to a new and pivotal pillar of Viet Nam–France relations, with a focus on strategic fields such as aerospace, clean energy and quantum technology.
These outcomes are of practical significance to the implementation of Viet Nam’s development vision and goals, particularly as the country accelerates economic development, renews its development model and seeks to make science and technology a principal driver of growth. The two sides also agreed to fully unlock the potential of traditional areas of cooperation.
Another prominent highlight of the trip was General Secretary and President To Lam’s attendance at the International Space Summit, where he delivered an important speech opening the high-level thematic session on building a new space for a rapidly changing world. This was the first of three high-level thematic sessions held within the framework of the summit. By proposing five principles for multilateral governance of outer space and an initiative to establish a “space for development and resilience” network, General Secretary and President To Lam brought Viet Nam into the process of shaping space governance towards peace, safety, sustainability and equity, for the common benefit of humankind.
With a series of outstanding and breakthrough outcomes, the State visit to the Russian Federation, official visit to the French Republic and attendance at the Space Summit in Paris by General Secretary and President To Lam have written new milestones into the history of Viet Nam–Russia and Viet Nam–France relations, opening a new chapter of dynamic, deeper, more substantive and effective cooperation. Viet Nam’s enduring relations with Russia and France are valuable assets to be cherished by generations of Vietnamese, Russian and French people. Developing these relationships is a strategic choice and a priority in the foreign policy of each country.
The trip successfully established a new development vision for Viet Nam’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with Russia and France, connecting resources for the country’s future while contributing to peace, stability, security and shared development around the world.
