The meeting was opened by the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin
Vyacheslav Victorovich
The Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the eighth convocation. Elected in single mandate constituency № 163 (Saratov constituency - Saratov Oblast)
and the Chairman of the National
Assembly of Vietnam Trần Thanh Mẫn. The agenda included issues related to development
of bilateral trade and economic ties and the investment climate, strengthening
energy contacts, the role of parliaments in building a just and safe world,
monitoring legislation in science and technology, and enhancing educational,
cultural and tourism cooperation.
Vyacheslav Volodin emphasized that one of the Commission's main objectives “is implementing the agreements reached at level of leaders of Russia and Vietnam”. He also noted the new forms of the dialogue, and development of solutions for implementing specific issues.
Trần Thanh Mẫn stressed that this format “has become an authoritative and reliable mechanism and has made an important contribution to the development of multilateral cooperation between our countries.” “Today's meeting is not only an opportunity to summarize the implementation of the agreements reached at the third meeting but also to discuss new areas of cooperation that both sides need and are interested now at this time,” he added.
Trade, Economic, and Humanitarian Cooperation
“Today, we are talking about development of bilateral trade and economic ties and the investment climate. It would be right to create the necessary legal framework so that the business community would be able to build relations more effectively,” emphasized the Chairman of the State Duma. He added that this would make the economic development more active that benefit both Russia and Vietnam.
Vyacheslav Volodin also noted the increased interest of Russian citizens in Vietnam as a tourist destination: the number of visitors to the Republic doubled in 2024. “This requires more effective efforts so that people who want to spend vacations in Vietnam or Russia will have everything they need,” he added.
One of the key areas of cooperation is enhancing socio-cultural interaction.
“We see a growing demand for knowledge of the languages of our countries. Much has been done in this area, but it would also be right to pay more attention to that,” said Vyacheslav Volodin.
“We are convinced that it would be right to enhance humanitarian cooperation, including in such areas like education, culture, and tourism. This is especially important as 2026 will be the year of Russia-Vietnam scientific and educational cooperation,” added the Chairman of the State Duma.
The Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam added that the issues that would be discussed at the fourth meeting of the Commission “are closely linked to the development needs of each country and with the spirit of the joint statement on the main guidelines for the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia at a new stage, that were adopted during the state visit of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Tô Lâm to the Russian Federation in May 2025.”
Building a just world order
As Vyacheslav Volodin noted in his speech, “the foundation of the two countries' relations lies in mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs—principles established by our grandfathers and great-grandfathers.” The Chairman of the State Duma congratulated his Vietnamese colleagues and the people of the country on the 80th anniversary of the Republic's independence, emphasizing that the multinational people of the Soviet Union “did everything possible for the sovereignty of Vietnam.” “Relying on this foundation, we should protect our relations and try to do everything possible to develop them and pass them on to future generations,” said Vyacheslav Volodin.
“The relations between our countries passed the test of time and have always been strong, like true relations of reliable friends and loyal comrades. We have shared joys and challenges together, and we continue to support each other,” added Trần Thanh Mẫn.
Russia and Vietnam share a similar position on creating a just world order, according to the Chairman of the State Duma. “Our goal is to ensure within the framework of various inter-parliamentary structures that as many people as possible support the creation of a multipolar world,” he said.
Vyacheslav Volodin quoted Ho Chi Minh, the leader of the Vietnamese people's national liberation struggle, who said that “there is nothing more precious than independence and freedom.” “Countries can develop only if they are sovereign, their citizens can make their own decisions, electing their representatives to government, and choosing their own path,” he added.
Prospects for development of bilateral contacts
The First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Ivan Melnikov
Ivan Ivanovich
noted the key task of parliaments which is to provide
legislative support for the implementation of bilateral projects, to ensure
security standards, and support personnel training.
“Our leaders in their joint statements have repeatedly emphasized their commitment to creating reliable security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as enhancing coordination on the international agenda,” stressed Ivan Melnikov. “Here, parliaments strengthen the link between foreign policy and national law: they develop positions on international treaties and ensure the implementation of decisions at the state level,” he added.
The Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Alexander Babakov
Alexander Mikhailovich
noted the world multipolarity, based on “the principles of respect for sovereignty, non-interference in the interests and affairs of other states, and recognition that each country has its own right to speak.”
“The international agenda is also very important, as this area is crucial for development of common approach to international institutions, to changing these institutions, and, most importantly, to building trust in these institutions,” he added.
Russia and Vietnam have strong economic cooperation with growing mutual trade. In 2024, trade turnover increased by 20.2%, reaching $5.95 billion, according to the Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy.
There are also positive
trends in direct investment. Vietnam’s investment in the Russia’s economy
increased by more than 20% in 2024, according to Maxim Topilin
Maxim Anatolievich
. “We are ready
to work together to develop cooperation and hope that the implementation of the roadmaps will help implement the agreements on increasing bilateral trade
turnover to $15 billion,” he said.
“Energy cooperation has been
a key area of interaction with Vietnam for over 40 years,” said the Chairman of the Committee on Energy Nikolay Shulginov
Nikolay Grigorievich
and noted the joint work on oil
production. “One of the key areas that my colleagues and I have emphasized is
that we have finally returned to the idea of restoration of the cooperation on the nuclear power plant construction,” he added.
