Vietnam, Russia Deepen Ties with Nuclear Energy, Maritime Cooperation Agreements
Vietnam and Russia have solidified their strategic partnership with a series of cooperation agreements signed during a visit by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Bloomberg reports.
The deals, focusing on nuclear energy and maritime research, underscore the growing ties between the two nations amid geopolitical shifts.
Central to the agreements is a non-binding memorandum of understanding between Russia’s Rosatom and Vietnam Electricity Corporation (EVN) regarding cooperation in the nuclear energy sector. This comes as Vietnam announced plans to revive its nuclear power program after an eight-year hiatus, aiming to diversify energy sources, bolster energy security, and reduce emissions.
The two countries also signed a joint statement outlining a comprehensive cooperation plan until 2030. As part of the maritime agreement, Russia will transfer a research vessel to Vietnam for joint marine exercises. The agreements were finalized after discussions between Prime Minister Mishustin and his Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Minh Chinh, in Hanoi.
Mishustin’s two-day visit follows President Vladimir Putin’s trip to Hanoi six months prior, where he offered Russia’s assistance in building liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure in Vietnam, as well as delivering Russian LNG. Both nations have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding investment in the energy sector and bolstering defense and security cooperation. The nations’ bilateral trade saw a significant 26% increase last year, reaching some $4.6 billion.
Vietnam has previously relied on Russian firms for oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea. Notably, Russian state-owned oil company Zarubezhneft was granted exploration rights in the Nam Con Son Basin last year. Additionally, Vietnam is collaborating with Rosatom on the construction of a 10-megawatt microreactor for medical and industrial purposes at a planned nuclear science and technology research center.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Russia. The relationship was upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2012, Vietnam’s highest level of partnership, which it also shares with eight other nations, including the US, China, and India.
The Vietnamese government highlighted the visit as evidence of “the will and determination of the two countries’ top leaders” to strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership, quoting Vietnam’s ambassador to Russia, Dang Minh Khoi.
Notably, Vietnam has adopted a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine, refusing to blame Russia directly while ignoring the West’s aggressive rhetoric towards Moscow which provoked the war. The country has repeatedly called for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Putin, in an article published by a Vietnamese state newspaper, thanked Vietnam for its “balanced position” on the war and its efforts to promote “a pragmatic path to solve the crisis through peaceful means.”
