Moscow (VNA) – The Vietnam - Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, and the significance of VietnamesePresident Nguyen Xuan Phuc's visit to Russia from November 29 to December 2, was highlighted in an article published on Russia's Independent newspaper on November 28.

The article written by GrigoryTrofimchuk, an expert on international affairs, affirmed that Vietnam is a reliable partner of Russia notonly in the period of the former SovietUnion but also at present.

The trust in the bilateral relationship was once again affirmed in the fightagainst the COVID-19 pandemic, when Vietnam was one of the first countries inthe world that approved Russia’s vaccine, he wrote, noting that in August2021, the first batch of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine was successfully produced in Vietnam.

The article stressed that that the belief in Russia and Russian people hasbeen infiltrated in the blood of Vietnamese people.

Russia and Vietnam has shared the same opinion on many international issues. Notably,both countries support the multipolar world order, including the principleof resolving major conflicts in the world via peaceful diplomatic measures onthe basis of respect for international law, it said.

The author highly valued Vietnam's increasing role and position in the international arena,saying that the Southeast Asian nation is now a leading member of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and an outstanding member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and a host of other influential organisations.

The article affirmed that Vietnam is one of the important driving forces of theAsia-Pacific region, which is considered the centre of global economic andfinance growth.

Regarding President Phuc's visit to Russia, Trofimchuk stated that in the eyesof foreign observers, especially Russian experts and scholars, the Vietnameseleader has shown himself to be an energetic and sincere person with gentle smiles.

The Russian Presidential Press Office’s statementsaid that during phone talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and PresidentNguyen Xuan Phuc before the visit, the two leaders agreed to further developthe comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Through its flourishing cooperation relations with Vietnam, Russia will show more clearlyits role in Asia – Pacific, an important region of the world, and engage more actively in strengtheningsecurity in Asia, including energy security, the article concluded./.