Russian President Vladimir Putin signed multiple cooperation agreements with Vietnamese President To Lam during a state visit aimed at strengthening ties in Asia amidst Russia’s international isolation due to the Ukraine conflict, Associated Press reports.
The agreements cover education, science, technology, oil and gas exploration, and health, and include plans for a nuclear science center in Vietnam. Putin emphasized the importance of a security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region based on peaceful dispute resolution. Vietnam remains a crucial military and economic partner for Russia, while also maintaining its relationships with Western nations.
The visit follows Putin’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and underscores Russia’s effort to break its international isolation. Vietnam’s “bamboo diplomacy,” highlights its strategic neutrality and diplomatic agility by balancing its long-standing ties with Russia and its growing relations with the US and China.
