Socialist Republic of Vietnam

President Putin met former Vietnamese students and workers in the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation March 2nd at the Hanoi Friendship Culture Palace.

In a warm atmosphere of friendship, the Russian president spent much time delivering a speech in Russian to participants. His speech was interrupted many times by long applause.

President Putin expressed his happiness in attending such a gathering full of emotion with those who know a lot about the land, history and culture of Russia. He reviewed great achievements of the co-operative and friendly relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation over the past 50 years and highlighted the bright prospect of the strategic partnership between the two countries in the current period. He also congratulated successes gained by the Vietnamese people in the national renovation process, further hoping that the development of friendship and co-operation between the two countries will ensure the interests of Russian and Vietnamese peoples in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

On behalf of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Associations, the Vietnam - Russian Federation Friendship Association and the Association of Graduates from Universities in the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation, Professor, Doctor Dao Trong Thi, member of the Party Central Committee and deputy head of the Hanoi National University, delivered a speech welcoming President Putin and the Russian Federation high-ranking delegation on their official visit to Vietnam.

Mr Thi emphasised that the fine, pure impression and the deep sentiment about a powerful and great Russia, about the hard working, honest but heroic Russian people have always been imprinted on the minds and hearts of those Vietnamese who have lived, studied and worked in the Russian Federation and the former Soviet Union. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese students trained in Russia have become scientists in many fields and have been making significant and effective contributions to Vietnam