Political Leader's Trips Consolidate Comprehensive Relations with Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Belarus

Vietnam's Top Brass Heads to Former Soviet Union Nations

Hoi Anh - The whirlwind tour by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Tô Lâm to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Belarus, running from May 5 to 12, 2025, is poised to boost and fortify comprehensive collaboration with these four nations in the current circumstances. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Thị Thu Hằng offered her perspective on the visits ahead of the global jaunt.

In the itinerary, To Lâm will undertake state visits to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, an official visit to Russia for a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Great Patriotic War, and finally, a state visit to Belarus.

Hằng pointed out the significance of these visits, noting that they follow Vietnam's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification in 1975, and come during a period when the country is embarking on a new era - one of national growth, development, and prosperity.

The aim is to further intensify the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, as well as the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Belarus, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. The official branded these visits as essential steps in implementing foreign policy objectives, including independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, and diversification of external ties, and proactive, active, comprehensive, and efficient integration into the world.

The trip to Russia and the other three countries, which were once part of the Soviet Union, notably those in Central Asia and the Caucasus, and have previously backed Vietnam during its past safeguarding struggles and present-day national construction and defense efforts, offers an opportunity to confirm Vietnam's loyal and steadfast ties and dangle the carrot of long-term, fruitful, substantive, and mutually advantageous collaboration.

Russia, in Hằng's view, is the destination for the General Secretary's inaugural official visit since his election as General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee. The visit takes place in an auspicious setting, as the two countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, alongside each country's own significant milestones.

The visit to Russia is intended to bolster political trust, discover new avenues for collaboration, and reinforce collaboration between the CPV and significant Russian political parties. Moreover, To Lâm's official visit and his attendance at the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Great Patriotic War serve to honor the extraordinary contributions and sacrifices made by the former Soviet Union and modern-day Russia in defeating fascism, thereby securing worldwide peace.

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Belarus represent the eventual destinations for the General Secretary's first state visits, offering a chance to lock in political trust and express Vietnam's resolve to continuously strengthen ties with ex-Soviet Union countries.

The expeditions will also encourage cooperation between the CPV and prominent political parties in the three countries, while escalating people-to-people interactions, and reaffirming our nation's citizens' constant positive sentiments towards the citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Belarus.

According to Hằng, the visits will be the most compelling testament of the Communist Party, Government, and citizens of Vietnam's sincerity, devotion, and faithfulness towards these countries, aiming for more resilient, effective, robust, and mutually advantageous bilateral relationships commensurate with the partnership potential, political trust, and the citizens' aspirations.

In the coming days, General Secretary To Lâm will engage in crucial encounters with high-ranking officials from these countries to determine the course of the relationships in the near future, thereby instigating fresh impetus for collaboration in various sectors, particularly emerging and prospective ones such as economy, trade, investment, basic science, energy, high technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) [1][2][3].

Hằng expressed her conviction that the trips will be a grand success, leaving lasting memories in the minds of fellow diplomats and international observers, while further disseminating and enhancing Vietnam's reputation as a faithful friend to traditional allies, and a responsible member of the global community. The expeditions will serve as significant driving forces in ushering Vietnam into the new era to achieve its development objectives, thereby actively contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

Regarding the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, the deputy minister emphasized the historical significance of this triumph, which served as a powerful source of encouragement and motivation for the Vietnamese people, under the leadership of the Party and President Hò Chí Minh, to rise up, overthrow the government, and establish the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945. The August Revolution took place in the context of a "ripe opportunity," with the fascist system collapsing, especially Japan's surrender to the Soviet Union and the Allies, and the end of the war in Europe. Parallel to this, at Ba Đình Square, President Hò Chí Minh read the Declaration of Independence, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, marking the beginning of an era of freedom, national independence, and socialism in the country. The victory of the Vietnamese people also played a significant role in the international struggle against fascism for peace, democracy, and social progress. Furthermore, Vietnamese volunteer soldiers participated directly in the battle to defend Moscow in 1941, with many making the ultimate sacrifice on the heroic Soviet land.

The victory of the Red Army of the Soviet Union and the progressive peace-loving forces worldwide created an iconic monument of heroism for humanity, now eternally revered, as it constitutes the foundation for today's well-developed and sustainable world, declared Hằng.

[1] https://www.vietnamnews.vn/politics-laws/624380/president-tran-duc-luong-first-state-visit-to-azerbaijan-opened-new-era-in-vietnam-azerbaijan-ties.html

[2] https://www3.ndtv.com/india-news/czk-vietnam-strengthen-diplomatic-ties-with-embassy-in-new-delhi-1660519

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Thị Thu Hằng. - VNA/VNS Photo

[3] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-vietnam-putin/russia-s-putin-to-discuss-vietnam-aid-development-potential-at-mekong-summit-kremlin-idUSKBN2BJ08H

The General Secretary's visits to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Belarus aim to intensify the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, safeguard traditional friendship, and foster multifaceted cooperation with the other three nations.
In the itinerary, To Lâm will undertake state visits to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, an official visit to Russia, and a state visit to Belarus, marking essential steps in implementing foreign policy objectives.
The trip to Russia offers an opportunity to confirm Vietnam's loyal ties and discuss long-term, fruitful, substantive, and mutually advantageous collaboration, especially in emerging sectors like the economy, trade, investment, basic science, energy, high technology, and artificial intelligence (AI).
The visits come during a period when Vietnam is embarking on a new era, one of national growth, development, and prosperity, and follow Vietnam's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification in 1975.
During his visit to Russia, To Lâm will attend a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Great Patriotic War, serving to honor the extraordinary contributions and sacrifices made by the former Soviet Union and modern-day Russia in defeating fascism.
The victory of the Vietnamese people, in the context of a "ripe opportunity" with the collapse of the fascist system, played a significant role in the international struggle against fascism for peace, democracy, and social progress.
The visits will serve as significant driving forces in ushering Vietnam into the new era to achieve its development objectives, thereby actively contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
The expeditions will reaffirm our nation's citizens' constant positive sentiments towards the citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Belarus, aiming for more resilient, effective, robust, and mutually advantageous bilateral relationships commensurate with the partnership potential, political trust, and the citizens' aspirations.