Top leader highlights promising Vietnam–Russia maritime cooperation

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam has highlighted maritime cooperation as a promising area for Vietnam and Russia while receiving Russian Presidential Aide and Chairman of the Maritime Board Nikolai Patrushev in Moscow on September 8.

The Vietnamese leader, who is paying a state visit to Russia, affirmed that the Party and State of Vietnam consistently regard Russia as an important and reliable partner and a top priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy and development strategy, a position reaffirmed by the 14th National Party Congress.

In the new development period, alongside further consolidating traditional areas of cooperation, the two countries should proactively develop new areas which are potential and aligned with their respective strengths and needs, with maritime cooperation offering particularly promising prospects.

Highly valuing the gradual establishment of a specialised maritime cooperation mechanism, General Secretary and President Lam stressed that Vietnam is a maritime nation with a long coastline and an important geostrategic position, and that the sea is of particular significance to national construction, development and defence. Vietnam aims to develop its marine economy strongly and sustainably while linking economic development with environmental protection, national defence and security, and living standard improvement.

Welcoming the two sides’ identification of orientations for maritime cooperation in 2026–2030, the top leader called on relevant agencies of both countries to urgently translate them into highly feasible programmes and projects, avoiding a situation in which agreements remain merely at the level of orientations and policies.

He noted that maritime transport and logistics are directly relevant to increasing trade and economic connectivity between Vietnam and Russia. He therefore proposed that the two sides consider the development of efficient sea transport routes and strengthen links between their seaports, shipping companies and logistics enterprises, thereby reducing costs and facilitating the movement of goods.

Noting Russia’s extensive experience, scientific – technological capabilities, and industrial base in shipbuilding, General Secretary and President Lam suggested that the two sides explore cooperation in shipbuilding, ship repair and maintenance, as well as technology transfer in line with Vietnam’s needs and conditions.

The two sides spoke highly of the long-standing cooperation between Vietnamese and Russian scientists, including positive results achieved under the framework of the Vietnam–Russia Tropical Centre.

General Secretary and President Lam asked for further improving the centre’s efficiency while expanding research cooperation into marine science, oceanography, biodiversity, marine environmental protection, climate change response, new materials and technologies serving the sustainable development of the marine economy.

Patrushev praised Vietnam’s vision and orientations for developing its marine economy and expressed his wish for the two sides to continue close coordination and effectively implement the cooperation plans and memoranda of understanding already reached, particularly by further promoting the role of the Vietnam–Russia Tropical Centre.

In terms of multilateral maritime cooperation, he said Russia attaches great importance to promoting maritime cooperation with ASEAN.

The two sides also discussed cooperation in ensuring maritime security and safety, combating various types of crime and addressing non-traditional security threats at sea. They agreed to step up experience sharing, expertise exchange and coordination among competent agencies in accordance with each country’s laws and international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Vietnamese leader called on Russia to continue making an active contribution to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region./.