During the working visit from 16/6 to 18/6, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung will attend the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit for the 35th anniversary of their relations and engage in bilateral activities in Kazan, Russia, according to VNA.

Accompanying the prime minister are Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Dang Xuan Phong, Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung, Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan, Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan, and many other senior officials.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung at Noi Bai International Airport on the morning of 16/6. Photo: VNA.

This marks Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's first working visit to Russia in his new capacity. Russia is a traditional, close, and comprehensive strategic partner of Vietnam.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's participation in this ASEAN-Russia summit consistently demonstrates Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, self-mastery, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, along with the multilateralization and diversification of foreign relations, in line with the spirit of the 14th National Party Congress.

This participation also sends a clear message about Vietnam's appreciation for the ASEAN-Russia strategic partnership. It helps promote Vietnam's bridging role, creating new momentum for ASEAN-Russia relations, as well as for the traditional friendship, strategic trust, and effective cooperation between Vietnam and Russia over many decades.

Russia initiated relations with ASEAN in July 1991, when Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Maslyukov attended the opening session of the 24th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur as a guest of the Malaysian government. Russia became a full dialogue partner of ASEAN in July 1996, establishing an official cooperation framework between the two sides.

By Ngoc Anh