The upcoming state visit to Russia by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President To Lam is expected to reaffirm the unwavering strategic nature of Viet Nam–Russia relations despite external upheavals, said Dr Valeria Vershinina, Deputy Director of the ASEAN Centre at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) under Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Russia praises Viet Nam’s traditional “bridge” role in Southeast Asia and affirms that the two countries maintain close coordination at multilateral forums to drive the stable development of the Russia - ASEAN Strategic Partnership, said Deputy Director of the ASEAN Centre at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) Dr. Valeria Vershinina.