President of Russia Vladimir Putin received General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam, who is in Russia on a state visit, in the Kremlin.
The official welcoming ceremony for To Lam and his spouse, Ngo Phuong Ly, was held in the St George’s Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, followed by an official photo session and the introduction of the delegations.
The talks began with a meeting in a restricted format. After that, the two leaders took part, via videoconference, in the opening of a laboratory for the study and prevention of infectious diseases, based at the Joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technological Centre in Hanoi. Talks in an extended format were also held.
Following the talks, the two leaders adopted a Joint Statement on the further strengthening of Russian-Vietnamese comprehensive strategic partnership at a new stage. The parties exchanged documents signed during To Lam’s state visit to Russia.
Notably, interagency memorandums were signed on promoting investment cooperation; the digitalisation of judicial authorities; cooperation in professional education and vocational training of specialists for the transport sector; and cooperation between the Russian Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs and Vietnam’s Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs. Memorandums of understanding were also signed between the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan and the People’s Committee of Hanoi City, and on cooperation in geological research, as well as the study, assessment and exploration of mineral resources in Vietnam’s offshore areas.
An Agreement was also signed between the Russian Federal Service for Environmental, Technologic and Nuclear Supervision and the Vietnamese Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety on cooperation in regulating nuclear and radiation safety in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
In addition, agreements were signed concerning production sharing for Blocks 04–3/16 and 05-1b&c/17 on the Vietnamese continental shelf, as well as the implementation of a project to establish a strategic oil reserve at the Dung Quat refinery.
The heads of state also made press statements.
In a separate ceremony held in the St Andrew’s Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize was awarded to President of Vietnam To Lam.
The bilateral programme concluded with a state dinner hosted on behalf of the President of Russia in the Faceted Chamber, in honour of the President of Vietnam and his wife.