This is his fifth visit to the Southeast Asian country, which is one of his first stops since he was sworn in for a fifth term in early May this year.
He had visited Vietnam four times before, for an official friendship visit in March 2001, a state visit in November 2013, a visit for participation in the APEC Meeting in Hanoi in November 2006, and a participation in the APEC Meeting in Da Nang in November 2017.
Official visit in 2001
President Putin paid his first official visit to Vietnam from February 28 to March 2, 2001, at the invitation of State President Tran Duc Luong. Described as an historical event that carried great significance to the bilateral ties, the visit opened up a sound development phase that elevated the two nation’s multi-faceted cooperation to a new high.
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President Putin pays his first official visit to Vietnam from February 28 to March 2, 2001. (Photo: AFP)
The two leaders signed a Joint Statement for the Vietnam – Russia Strategic Partnership and a series of cooperation documents, including one between the two foreign trade banks, another between the Ministry of Science Technology and Environment and Russian Federal Agency for technical regulation and metrology in mutual recognition of certificates and testing results, and a protocol on reviewing the basis of the legal treaties, and the efficacy of the bilateral treaties and agreements.
On the occasion, Luong presented the Ho Chi Minh Order to Putin and the Friendship Orders to Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Victor Borisovich Khristenko, and Foreign Minister Igor Sergeyevich Ivanov.
Participation in APEC Economic Leaders (APEC)’ Meeting, official visit in 2006
Putin travelled to Vietnam for an official visit from November 19 and 20 at the invitation of State President Nguyen Minh Triet. The trip affirmed the increasingly enhanced and developed Vietnam – Russia relations, and demonstrated the Russian Government and people’s interest in Vietnam.
During his stay, the Russian leader held talks with Triet, met with Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong.
At the events, the two sides concurred to step up the Vietnam – Russia comprehensive cooperation on the basis of capitalising their strengths, paying special attention to the economic-trade cooperation on the principle of equality and mutual benefits, and unceasingly improving the quality and efficiency of the collaboration for the benefits of the two peoples.
The Russian leader congratulated Vietnam on fulfilling its role as the APEC Chair and successfully organising the APEC Meeting in Hanoi.
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The Russian President pays tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi. (Photo: AFP)
Following their talks, Triet and Putin signed and witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents, comprising one on continued collaboration in geological exploration and oil and gas exploitation, and a joint action programme for 2007-2008 on the implementation of the tourism cooperation pact between the two governments.
Putin presented to Triet valuable documents that highlighted President Ho Chi Minh’s activities in Russia during 1924-1925 and 1936-1937.
Meanwhile, the Vietnamese President and his guest presented the Friendship Orders of the Vietnamese and Russian States to 10 oil and gas experts of the two countries.
State visit in 2013
Putin and his entourage paid a state visit to Vietnam on November 12, 2013, at the invitation of State President Truong Tan Sang.
During the visit, he held talks with Sang and met with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, during which the leaders of both nations highly valued the upgrade of the bilateral ties to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2012, briefed each other on the political and socio-economic situations and the foreign policies of each nation, and discussed bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual concerns.
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The Russian President pays a state visit to Vietnam in 2013 at the invitation of President Truong Tan Sang. (Photo: AFP)
Along with the Joint Statement on the continued enhancement of the Vietnam – Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the two nations clinched more than 20 agreements, documents, and Memoranda of Understanding, including the inter-governmental agreements on the training of Vietnamese citizens in Russia, and on the transfer of sentenced persons.
While in Vietnam, Putin attended a photo exhibition that spotlighted the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations, and the opening ceremony of the Russian Cultural Days in Vietnam.
Participation in APEC Meeting in 2017
President Putin arrived in the central city of Da Nang on November 10, 2017, to attend the APEC Meeting and related activities.
State President Tran Dai Quang hosted a reception for him on November 10 afternoon, during which Quang said that Putin’s participation in the event contributed greatly to its success, while his Russian guest affirmed that Vietnam is always a priority in Russia’s foreign policy in Asia-Pacific.
They also issued a joint statement on the bilateral cooperation in safeguarding international information security.
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President Putin arrives in the central city of Da Nang on November 10, 2017, to attend the APEC Meeting and related activities (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)
State visit in 2024
President Putin’s state visit this year is taking place at a time when the two nations are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Treaty on the Principles of the Friendly Relations and on the threshold of the 75th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties in 2025, thus holding an extremely important significance.
During the visit, Putin and the high-ranking delegation of Russia will hold talks, meet, and discuss with Vietnamese high-level leaders, helping consolidate and develop the Vietnam – Russia relations.
The two sides are expected to issue a joint statement and sign cooperation deals in such domains as higher education, justice, customs regulations, health care and energy.
According to Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Committee’s Commission for External Relations, Putin’s state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Party General Secretary Trong is an illustration of Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence and self-reliance for peace, friendship, cooperation, development, and diversification and multilateralism.
