The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam has set out strategic orientations for Vietnam's development in the coming years and identified further expansion of international integration and development of foreign relations with partners as key objectives. According to you, what role will cooperation with the Russian Federation, one of Vietnam's first comprehensive strategic partners, play in Vietnam's foreign policy orientation in this new stage?
General Secretary, President To Lam: The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam is an important milestone, defining strategic goals and orientations to bring Vietnam to rapid and sustainable development in the new era of development. To achieve those goals, Vietnam continues to steadfastly implement the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralization, diversification of foreign relations in the spirit of being friends, reliable partners, active and responsible members of the international community.
In the overall orientation, the Vietnam - Russian Federation Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to be one of the top priorities, a strategic choice in Vietnam's foreign policy. That orientation is built on the foundation of traditional friendship through many generations, political trust that has been tested over time and similarity in vision for the future of the two countries. Therefore, further developing and raising the bilateral cooperation relationship between Vietnam and the Russian Federation in the coming time is a long-term interest of both countries.
The history of relationship development has shown that this is a rare close, faithful, and reliable relationship between the people of the two countries as well as in international relations in general, forged over the past 75 years, constantly nurtured through many generations. Vietnam will never forget the Soviet friends, comrades, and brothers, including Russia, who gave Vietnam and the Vietnamese people material and spiritual assistance, including blood and bone sacrifices throughout the two resistance wars and national construction as well as development and integration. That understanding, close feelings and enthusiastic support is a precious asset, creating a special vitality for the relationship between the two countries.
At the same time, in the new period, the two countries share many similar interests, development visions and many complementary areas of cooperation. The cooperation between a country with an important role, position and voice in the world like Russia and a country that is rising strongly, increasingly playing an important role in the region and in the world like Vietnam not only meets the requirements, aspirations and legitimate interests of the people of the two countries but also contributes to peace, stability and development in the region and in the world. Russia has strengths and experience in many fields while Vietnam can supplement, promote, and further enrich these strengths.
Therefore, the goal in the coming time is not only to inherit and preserve the achievements of the past 75 years, but also to deepen and comprehensively enhance Vietnam-Russian Federation cooperation. Traditional fields such as education and training, energy, culture, art... are foundations that need to be further consolidated and renewed. New fields are orientations that need to be concretized by sustainable, long-term and strategic projects such as maritime, railway, space, science and technology, innovation, digital technology...
I believe that, with the political determination of the leaders and the support of the people of the two countries, the Vietnam - Russian Federation Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to develop strongly, substantively, and effectively, making positive contributions to the cause of building and developing each country, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace, stability, cooperation and development of the region and the world.
In 2025, Vietnam and the Russian Federation will celebrate many important historical events, such as the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and Vietnamese National Day, the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and national reunification. The people of the two countries have always stood side by side, supporting each other in those historical periods. According to you, what is the significance of this solid friendship for the development of bilateral relations today?
General Secretary, President To Lam: The important events that Vietnam and the Russian Federation celebrate together in 2025 show that the history of the two nations has many profound intersections, associated with common values of independence, freedom and peace. Victory in the Great Patriotic War is not only meaningful to the Soviet people, but also contributes decisively to the victory of humanity over fascism, opening up favorable conditions for the movement to fight for independence and freedom of nations around the world, including Vietnam.
For Vietnam, the victory of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War was a great source of encouragement and motivation for the Vietnamese people, under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, to rise up, carry out a general uprising, and seize power. The August Revolution of 1945 was successful in the context of "ripe timing" and the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, which opened an era of independence for the Vietnamese nation.
Throughout the 80-year history of gaining independence and national reunification to the cause of reconstruction, construction and development, the Vietnamese people have always cherished and remembered the great, righteous, and sincere support and assistance of the people of the former Soviet Union and the people of Russia today. Soviet military experts directly trained and fought with the Vietnamese people's army; experts, professors, engineers, and doctors worked and helped Vietnam build many economic, cultural, scientific and educational projects, becoming symbols of friendship between the two countries. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese cadres, experts, scientists and artists who were trained in the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation today have made important contributions to the cause of building and developing the country. Sharing and helping each other in the most difficult moments is not only part of history, but has become a precious asset of Vietnam - Russian Federation relations.
It is from that historical and emotional foundation that political trust has been formed and constantly nurtured over the years. With that trust, Vietnam and the Russian Federation can sincerely and openly exchange with each other on strategic issues, in the spirit of respecting, understanding and caring about each other's legitimate interests. This is also the basis for the two sides to overcome the fluctuations of the international situation, expand and deepen cooperation in all fields, bringing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership relationship to become increasingly substantive and effective, contributing to the new stage of development of each nation.
I believe that the history of development of relations between the two countries has built strong trust, which is a solid foundation for the current bilateral relationship. And the future of the relationship between the two countries must continue to be built with specific results. Therefore, it is important to continue to transform political trust and good feelings between the two nations into meaningful cooperation programs, projects and works in the fields of economy, national defense and security, science and technology, education and training, culture and arts, and fields directly serving the lives of the people of the two countries.
At the same time, the sustainable friendship between Vietnam and the Russian Federation must be inherited and promoted through generations. The two sides need to create more opportunities for the young generations of the two countries to understand each other better, strengthen youth and student exchanges, educational and cultural cooperation, teaching and learning Russian and Vietnamese, so that the good values of traditional friendship are not only preserved but also continued to be nurtured in new conditions, living forever with time.
I believe that when the past is cherished, the present is nurtured and the future is jointly built, Vietnam - Russian Federation friendship will not only be preserved as a priceless heritage of history, but will continue to be enriched by new cooperation achievements, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace, cooperation and development.
Recently, the Jury of the International Peace Prize named after Lev Tolstoy met and voted unanimously to award the 2026 prize to you. Congratulations to you and your important contributions to the cause of building and developing Vietnam as well as the cause for world justice, respecting international law, and promoting to the world the tradition of peace and humanity of the Party, State and people of Vietnam. How do you assess the meaning of this award? And what important orientations will Vietnam continue to have for the cause of consolidating peace, stability, cooperation and development between nations around the world in the coming time?
General Secretary, President To Lam: I am very honored to be awarded the International Peace Prize named after Lev Tolstoy in 2026. The award is a respect for the values of peace and humanity that the Vietnamese nation has always preserved and pursued, as well as for Vietnam's persistent efforts in promoting peace, friendship, cooperation, respect for international law and strengthening understanding between nations.
Vietnam is a peace-loving nation and understands the value of peace very well. In 40 years of Doi Moi, the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, peace, friendship, cooperation and development; multilateralization, diversification of relations have made important contributions to creating a favorable environment for national development and enhancing Vietnam's position in the international arena. Vietnam will continue to adhere to that policy, being a friend, a reliable partner and an active and responsible member of the international community.
In an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, we believe that dialogue is better than confrontation, cooperation is better than division. Differences need to be resolved by peaceful means, on the basis of equality, mutual respect, respect for the legitimate interests of all parties and international law. Only on that basis can relations between countries be stable, sustainable and mutually beneficial.
With new position and strength after 40 years of Doi Moi, Vietnam will continue to contribute more proactively, actively and responsibly to the common work of the international community. Vietnam is ready to act as a bridge for cooperation, dialogue and reconciliation; contribute to building a fair and equal international order based on international law; and at the same time participate more and more practically in efforts to maintain peace, rescue and relief, sustainable development, ensure food security and respond to climate change.
We believe that peace is the common aspiration of all nations, cooperation is the path to joint development, and mutual respect is the foundation for coexistence and progress. Vietnam will continue to do its best for those goals.
Thank you very much, Sir!
