Vietnam PM urges stronger cooperation with Russia to bolster energy security

The message was conveyed on Wednesday in Hanoi during his meeting with Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Bezdetko, where both sides reviewed progress in bilateral relations and discussed priority areas for post-visit cooperation, according to Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

PM Chinh expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of his recent official visit to Russia from March 22 to 25, noting that his discussions with senior Russian leaders, including President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, took place in a sincere and constructive atmosphere that helped reinforce political trust and practical cooperation.

He reaffirmed that Vietnam–Russia relations, built on a long-standing friendship and mutual trust, should continue to be deepened through the effective implementation of high-level agreements reached during the visit.

Energy remained a key pillar of the discussions, with the Vietnamese prime minister urging both sides to expedite the implementation of signed agreements in oil and gas exploration and production.

He also called for expanding cooperation into new energy areas, including renewable energy development and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, to ensure long-term energy security.

In recent months, energy security has become a growing concern for many countries, including Vietnam, amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following the outbreak of military conflict on February 28 involving the U.S., Israel and Iran, which has disrupted global oil supply.

Beyond energy, the Vietnamese leader also called for enhanced cooperation in transport infrastructure, including projects on urban railway development and potential intermodal rail links between Vietnam and Russia.

He urged Russian partners to coordinate closely with Vietnamese agencies and major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to send working delegations to Vietnam to conduct surveys and cooperate on the design and construction of these projects.

Ambassador Bezdetko welcomed the outcomes of the recent visit, saying that discussions between PM Chinh and Russian leaders, including President Putin and PM Mishustin, had been highly substantive and effective, creating strong momentum for bilateral relations across all areas.

He agreed on the need to urgently implement the outcomes of the visit and reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to work closely with Vietnamese and Russian agencies and organizations to promote cooperation in all fields, especially those highlighted by Chinh.