The Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg on January 30 held a conference in Moscow to mark the 73^rd anniversary of Russia – Vietnam diplomatic relations.

Overview of the conference. Photos: VNA

At the conference, Vietnam’s Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi affirmed that after 73 years, the relationship between Vietnam and Russia has overcome many challenges and progressed strongly in all fields.

“Such a relation is an invaluable asset for the two peoples,” Khoi said.

In 2022, although the global political and economic situation has undergone major upheavals, bilateral cooperation in key areas has continued to strengthen.

Ambassador Khoi suggested that 2023 is a year of great importance in the relationship between Vietnam and Russia, as the two countries would celebrate the centenary of President Ho Chi Minh's arrival in Petrograd, today Saint Petersburg.

To mark this important event, the city of St. Petersburg and Vietnamese authorities are in the process of building a statue of Uncle Ho in St. Petersburg.

“This is an important and meaningful project, which would become a new symbol of the relationship between the two countries, and the two peoples of Vietnam and Russia,” said Khoi.

At the meeting, Ambassador of Russia to Vietnam Gennady Bezdetko reaffirmed the view that Vietnam has always been one of Russia's closest and most reliable partners in the Asia-Pacific region.

Despite the impacts of ongoing sanctions against Russia, Bezdetko noted both sides have maintained the positive momentum of cooperation in key areas.

He noted Vietnam remained Russia’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, albeit at a declining trade turnover.

Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg Evgeny Grigoriev.

The Russian Ambassador said agreements reached through meetings and negotiations have created premises for further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Nguyen Thi Hoang Van said that over the past seven decades, the two countries relations in all fields have continuously been consolidated and developed.

Van also expressed appreciation for St. Petersburg's initiative to celebrate the anniversary every year, considering it an example of the affection and close relationship between the Russian city and its Vietnamese partners.

Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg Evgeny Grigoriev congratulated his Vietnamese friends on the occasion of the 2023 Lunar New Year and the upcoming founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 – February 3, 2023).

Grigoriev said that this conference is the continuation of the sixth project of the city's Foreign Relations Committee, which began in mid-November last year and entitled "Celebrating the 100th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's arrival in Russia. The unshakable foundation of friendship and cooperation."

Grigoriev also said that in 2023, there will be many events organized by the city government under this project.

Representatives of St. Petersburg confirmed that the city and its Vietnamese counterparts are making every effort so that the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in the so-called Northern Capital of Russia will be inaugurated in June on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Uncle Ho's arrival in Petrograd.

Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Russia Do Xuan Hoang said that the Vietnamese community in Russia is extremely proud and looks forward to the inauguration of the statue of Ho Chi Minh in St. Petersburg, expressing his wish to see in Vietnam a monument to honor the Soviet and Russian experts - the symbols of the friendship between the two countries.