Putin-Vietnam President Summit: "No Alliances or Treaties with Each Other's Hostile Countries"

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong, who visited Vietnam, held talks on the 20th (local time) and agreed not to form alliances with each other's hostile countries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is shaking hands again with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on the 20th.
Photo by EPA Yonhap News

According to Yonhap News, President Vo Van Thuong stated after meeting with President Putin at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi that "the two countries have agreed not to participate in alliances and treaties with third countries that undermine each other's independent sovereignty and territorial integrity."

He added, "We will strengthen cooperation in defense and security and jointly confront new and traditional challenges to international stability," and "we also agreed on the central guidelines and principles to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership."

Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Vietnam has maintained neutrality and has not joined Western criticism or sanctions against Russia. This stance is expected to continue.

President Putin gained achievements from his tour to reaffirm a small alliance of allied countries with Vietnam's support. Russia has been internationally isolated under Western leadership, including the United States, due to the invasion of Ukraine.

President Putin said, "I want to emphasize that the positions of Russia and Vietnam largely coincide or are close," and "Vietnam, as a member representing ASEAN, strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam is our priority." He also added, "I invited President Vo Van Thuong to the Victory Day event commemorating the victory in World War II on May 9 next year."

Through this meeting, Vietnam can receive long-term supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia and attract investments from Russian companies in the natural gas sector. President Putin stated, "We agreed to explore the possibility of increasing cooperation in new energy and clean energy fields to promote green energy transition and sustainable development with Vietnam."

Meanwhile, after the meeting with President Vo Van Thuong, President Putin will also hold talks with Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party and the highest-ranking official in Vietnam, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. He will then visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the founding father of Vietnam, and meet with National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.