Russia attaches great importance to developing dialogue with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Vietnam is a leading member, Putin said during talks with his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam.

"Strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam is one of our priorities," the Russian president also said.

He recalled the regular contacts between the parties, including through parliaments, ministries, departments, parties, regions and public organizations, and also noted the progressive development of trade and economic ties.

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Vietnam congratulates Russia on achieving important results and taking stronger position on political arena — Vietnamese President

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Vietnamese President To Lam thanked Russia for assistance provided to Vietnam during its struggle for independence

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Vladimir Putin invited President of Vietnam to Moscow to celebrate 80th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War

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🔸 Putin holds talks with Vietnamese President

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Kim Jong Un highly appreciated the Aurus, which was presented to him by Putin, North Korean publications write.

According to them, the DPRK leader thanked the Russian president for this "magnificent gift".

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❗️The West is preparing to sacrifice Zelensky when Russia consolidates its successes on the battlefield, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said.

The United States considers former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny the most suitable candidate to replace him in the United States, the department notes.

Meanwhile, Washington and its satellites are satisfied with the current situation, in which Zelensky's legitimacy depends entirely on Western support, the SVR stressed.

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The Aurus in the motorcade of the Russian president caused a stir in Vietnam:

Everyone takes turns taking pictures near the famous car. They wait patiently and take a picture to remember.

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🇷🇺🤝🇻🇳During Putin's visit, Russia and Vietnam signed a number of documents on cooperation in various fields.

Among them are documents on cooperation in education, a memorandum on the schedule for the establishment of a nuclear technology center in Vietnam.

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Russia and Vietnam will strengthen cooperation in the field of defense and security, the President of the Republic said after talks with Putin.

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Focus on Russian-Vietnamese strategic partnership: Key takeaways from Putin-Lam Talks

Negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam concluded in Hanoi on Thursday, with the two leaders making the following statements:

🔸 Strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam remains one of Russia's priorities, Putin stressed.

🔸 Last year, [bilateral] trade grew by 8%. The intergovernmental commission on both sides is working closely on this. The growth of trade is, of course, facilitated by the implementation of the 2015 free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Vietnam," the Russian president added.

🔸 In 2024, Moscow and Hanoi will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of a bilateral friendship treaty, he recalled.

🔸 "All this time we have maintained regular and meaningful political contacts, including through parliaments, ministries, agencies, parties, regional authorities and public organizations," Putin said.

🔸 "We coordinate our actions in the international arena. Russia attaches great importance to developing dialogue with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Vietnam is one of the leading members," Putin said.

🔸 "We will be glad to see you [To Lam] at the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War [1941-1945] in Moscow," he said.

🔸 Vietnam "always remembers with gratitude the Russian people's selfless support for its struggle for independence," To Lam said.

🔸 The country "pursues an independent and self-sufficient peaceful foreign policy, but at the same time attaches great importance to development of traditional friendship - a comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia," he stressed.

🔸 Hanoi sees Russia as one of Vietnam's foreign policy priorities, the Vietnamese president concluded.

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The international organization Reporters Without Borders announced increased pressure from the authorities on independent media in Ukraine.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh

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❗️Permanent representatives of EU countries have agreed on 14th package of sanctions against Russia, the Belgian presidency said.

The new sanctions would affect restrictions on the transshipment of Russian liquefied natural gas to the EU and the transportation of Russian oil, media reported.

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