From May 6 to May 10, 2025, a delegation from Hanoi, led by Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen, paid a working visit to Russia.

The visit aimed to promote decentralized collaborations between Hanoi and Russian localities, building on the outcomes of the 25th session of the Vietnam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Trade, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation.

During the visit, Deputy Chairman Quyen participated in several key activities as part of the high-level Vietnamese delegation. These included attending a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and General Secretary To Lam, witnessing the signing of bilateral cooperation agreements, accompanying General Secretary To Lam to the Russian Presidential Academy, and joining the launch ceremony for a new direct Vietnam Airlines flight route between Hanoi and Moscow.

Strengthening ties with St. Petersburg

In St. Petersburg, the Hanoi delegation held talks with local officials, and signed a cooperation agreement with the St. Petersburg government.

The delegation also held meetings with St. Petersburg's investment authorities, laid flowers at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in Vyborg District, and visited School No.488.

Deputy Chairman Quyen on May 6 met with Grigoryev Evgeny Dmitrievich, a member of the St. Petersburg government and Chairman of the city's Committee for External Relations, at Smolny Palace.

He emphasized the robust and mutually beneficial development of the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, supported by frequent political exchanges – especially at the highest level – and a strong foundation built over 75 years of diplomatic relations since 1950.

Marking the 75th anniversary of Vietnam–Russia diplomatic ties, the visit coincided with significant historical milestones for both nations: Russia's celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War, and Vietnam's commemorations of the 50th anniversary of national reunification and the 80th anniversaries of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2).

The Hanoi-St. Petersburg relationship has made positive strides since 2022, thanks to the efforts of both city governments and St. Petersburg's Committee for External Relations.

The newly signed cooperation agreement marks a significant step forward, reflecting the shared commitment to expanding exchanges and mutual understanding.

The agreement covers key sectors such as trade, investment, culture, tourism, science, technology, and other potential areas.

Deputy Chairman Quyen welcomed the upcoming visit of St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov and his delegation to Hanoi later in 2025, which will help implement and advance the signed cooperation agreement.

At School No.488, Quyen expressed his appreciation for the deep affection that teachers and students, and the people of St. Petersburg have shown for President Ho Chi Minh.

He was moved to see the school prominently displaying books and portraits of the late Vietnamese leader, and noted that the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in St. Petersburg stands as a symbol of the Russian people's respect and admiration and a testament to the strong ties between the two countries.

Through the city's Committee for External Relations, Hanoi also expressed its support for School No.488's proposal to establish a partnership with a high school in Hanoi. Hanoi will assign appropriate agencies to coordinate with St. Petersburg to facilitate this initiative during Governor Beglov's visit.

In Moscow, the Hanoi delegation met with Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Moscow Government and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations.

Deputy Chairman Quyen called for Moscow's support in speeding up progress on the proposed Moscow House project in Hanoi.

He also expressed hope that both the Moscow Cultural and Trade Center in Hanoi and the Hanoi-Moscow Multifunctional Complex (Incentra) in Moscow could become enduring symbols of the friendship and cooperation between the two cities.

The Hanoi official also proposed deepening cooperation and exchanging experiences with Moscow in the areas of urban development and public transportation modernization. To further enhance bilateral ties, a Moscow delegation is expected to visit Hanoi for the "Moscow Days in Hanoi" program later this year.

Investment, trade, and tourism Promotion

As part of the visit, the Hanoi delegation organized the Hanoi-Russia Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion Conference 2025.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Chairman Quyen presented Hanoi's strengths and priority sectors for investment, emphasizing the considerable potential for partnership between Hanoi and Moscow.

Hanoi encouraged Moscow-based enterprises to explore investment opportunities in areas such as satellite city development, public transportation, semiconductor technology, clean energy, ecological agriculture, and innovation centers.

The conference facilitated direct exchanges between Moscow businesses and representatives of Hanoi's Department of Industry and Trade, covering tourism, transportation, and other sectors.

The Hanoi delegation on May 9 visited the Hanoi-Moscow Multifunctional Complex (Incentra).

Deputy Chairman Quyen called on Incentra to enhance the promotion of Vietnamese goods, particularly those from Hanoi, and to help foster business connections and mutual understanding between the Vietnamese community in Russia and the capital city of Vietnam.