At the meeting (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn)

With the theme "Two centuries of friendship, two decades of strategic partnership", the meeting aimed to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation (2001-2021) and orientations for future cooperation, and discussing President Ho Chi Minh's heritage for youth work.

Speaking at the Saint Petersburg bridge, Governor of Saint Petersburg A.D Beglov said that the meeting was a meaningful activity, affirming that cooperation between Russia and Vietnam was based on mutual trust and deep respect. “Saint Petersburg and Ho Chi Minh cities have made significant contributions to strengthening relations between the two countries,” he added, expressing his belief that the solid foundation gained in previous years would help the two cities realize many new projects and continue to strongly develop cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples.

Noting historical events, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen affirmed that the relationship between Vietnam and the Russian Federation today is the continuation and inheritance of the good traditional friendship built up from the revolutionary wars of Vietnam and the former Soviet Union, and were developed over many generations. The special affection between the two peoples was laid when President Ho Chi Minh first set foot in the Soviet Union to look for a way to liberate the Vietnamese people from slavery and colonization. Since then, the people of Vietnam and the people of Russia, despite geographical distance, are always close in spirit, similar in will and desire to rise up, overcome challenges together, and foster friendship.

He emphasized that Vietnamese people in general, including Ho Chi Minh City’s people, always keep in mind the material and spiritual support and assistance from the Soviet Union’s people during its struggle for independence and national unification. Many projects have become symbols of friendship between the two countries, such as the Hoa Binh hydropower plant, the Vietsovpetro oil and gas joint venture, Thang Long Bridge and many others. The Soviet Union also helped Vietnam train many leaders and experts in various fields. In 1994, the two countries signed the Treaty on the Basic Principles of Friendly Relations. In 2001, Russia was the first country in the world with which Vietnam established a strategic partnership, before the relationship was heightened to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2012.

At the local level, the friendship and cooperative relations between Ho Chi Minh City and Saint Petersburg which was established in 2005 has made good progress. The two sides regularly exchange delegations at all levels and jointly organize many conferences and seminars; and completed procedures for establishing friendly and cooperative relations between Kronstadt District of Saint Petersburg and Can Gio District of Ho Chi Minh City. In addition, the two cities are studying the potential of cooperation in the field of pharmaceuticals and cancer treatments; share technologies and experiences in water loss reduction and drainage simulation and actively take necessary steps for the establishment of the Economic - Tourism - Cultural Center of Ho Chi Minh City in Saint Petersburg.

Referring to the relationship between Ho Chi Minh City and Saint Petersburg, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen said that the potential for cooperation is still great, because both cities are the driving force of the dynamic development of each country. Ho Chi Minh City has 10 million people but accounts for nearly a quarter of Vietnam's economic size, contributing 27% of the national budget. It is focusing on developing in the direction of a smart and modern city, as an economic, financial, trade, scientific and technological center of Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, Saint Petersburg is a major economic, scientific, technical, cultural and tourist center of Russia, and a place many Vietnamese admire. Because this is not only the first city of Russia that Uncle Ho came to in 1923 when he went to find a way to save the country, but also a hero city in the great patriotic war. It is also the cultural capital of the world, home to many cultural and historical heritages of Europe and the world.

Within the framework of the meeting, the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and Saint Petersburg witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training and the Saint Petersburg City Education Committee; a Memorandum of Understanding between Ho Chi Minh City’s Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Saint Petersburg Committee for Youth policy and Social organizations Interaction, and the Saint Petersburg Committee for Foreign Affairs. These two MOUs will contribute to strengthening cooperation in the field of youth policy and training./.

Compiled by BTA