Russia drafts plan of cooperation with Vietnam until 2030

MOSCOW. July 7 (Interfax) - Russian agencies have finalized drafting a comprehensive bilateral cooperation plan with Vietnam until 2030, Russian Deputy Prime Dmitry Chernyshenko said.

"This is a voluminous and detailed document containing a number of sectoral roadmaps with distinct targets. We will soon present it to the Vietnamese side. We hope for its fast and constructive consideration," Chernyshenko said at a meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Hoang Xuan Chien on Thursday.

Chernyshenko voiced Russia's interest in cooperation in numerous areas, including trade, investment, science, technologies, education and culture. It is of crucial importance implement resolutions of the Russian-Vietnamese Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation as soon as possible, he said.

Russia highly appreciates the activity of the Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research Center in Hanoi, which has recently turned 35, he said. A new program of research, development and technological projects for 2025-2029, which will include the implementation of AI algorithms, should be the foundation of the strategy, he said.

In turn, Hoang said that Hanoi is committed to cooperation with Moscow in defense and other areas. "Vietnam will be with you no matter what," he said.

Hanoi and Moscow agreed on further steps to develop defense cooperation, he said. Hoang said he discussed with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Thursday how to "boost defense cooperation," which is one of the five key areas of bilateral relations.

On Friday, Hoang is expected to have a series of meetings with Russian officials to discuss the development plans of the Tropical Research Center. "We will discuss the research and development areas both sides wish to advance. For instance, we will discuss how to increase the wear resistance of weapons and equipment that we procured from the Soviet Union and Russia and how to keep healthy the submariners, military pilots and soldiers operating in harsh environments," he said.

"Cooperation in the Tropical Research Center is a symbol of our relations since the Soviet era. [...] The tomorrow [Friday] meeting will be very important because we will discuss details of key steps in the development of the Tropical Research Center. [...] In particular, we will consider the Tropical Research Center's development strategy for the period until 2030 and further," Hoang said.

He invited Chernyshenko to visit Vietnam again.