Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Vietnam and held talks with the country’s President To Lam on Thursday. They agreed to enhance bilateral ties in areas such as trade and energy.
Putin said he wants the two countries to have a stronger strategic partnership.
In a joint news conference, he said bilateral trade has already increased by more than 30 percent this year. He also said that Russian companies are ready to join large liquefied natural gas projects in Vietnam.
The two sides have been close since the days of the Soviet Union. But that has not stopped Vietnam from also deepening ties with the United States and Japan, mainly in the fields of investment and trade.
Putin later met with Vietnam’s top leader, Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
Observers say the Kremlin is keen to solidify friendships at a time when Western countries have sought to isolate Russia for invading Ukraine.