Russian President Putin convenes with Vietnamese leader To Lam in Hanoi capital.
During his fifth trip to Vietnam as a leader, Putin expressed gratitude for Vietnam's even-handed approach towards the Ukraine crisis in a piece for the official communist party newspaper "Nhan Dan." Vietnam refrained from voting against Russia in UN resolutions regarding the Ukraine invasion.
As per Russian officials, discussions between Putin and the Vietnamese leadership will center around economic, energy, and educational matters. In 2022, the trade between the two nations reached $3.5 billion (approximately €3.2 billion), which is a minor fraction compared to Vietnam's trade with China ($175 billion) and the US ($123 billion).
Before venturing to Vietnam, Putin participated in talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. In the isolated nation, Putin and Kim sealed an agreement regarding mutual aid in the event of external aggression. Furthermore, Kim pledged his unwavering backing to Putin in the conflict with Ukraine.
Putin was greeted in North Korea with a grand showcase, consisting of a military band, flag-raising ceremonies, and synchronized dance performances. In contrast, his welcome in Vietnam was less ostentatious.
Vietnam serves as a global manufacturing hub and strives to maintain cordial relations with all parties without falling into debt to any. Primarily, Vietnam aims to steer clear of choosing sides in the escalating confrontation between China and the US, a period when both superpowers are intensifying their influence in the region.
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- Despite Putin's appreciation for Vietnam's neutral stance during the Ukraine crisis, Russia's trade with Vietnam pales in comparison to its trade with China and the USA.
- In his piece for "Nhan Dan", the official communist party newspaper, Putin acknowledged Vietnam's impartial approach towards the Ukraine crisis, praising their decision not to vote against Russia in UN resolutions.
- Before meeting with To Lam in Hanoi, Putin engaged in discussions with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, securing a mutual aid agreement if either nation faces external aggression.
- During Putin's trip to North Korea, Kim pledged unwavering support to Putin in his conflict with Ukraine, adding to the list of global powers backing Putin in the ongoing crisis.
- The Head of state in Vietnam, Lam, welcomed Putin with a more low-key celebration compared to the lavish welcoming ceremony in North Korea, reflecting Vietnam's desire to maintain balanced relations with all world powers.
- Russia's relations with Vietnam include discussions on economic, energy, and educational matters, as both nations seek to strengthen their ties and leverage their respective resources.
- In a bid to avoid geopolitical entanglements and maintain financial independence, Vietnam aims to maintain cordial relations with all major world powers, including China, the USA, and Russia, without aligning itself with any single bloc.
