Putin Visits Vietnam - A New Partnership for Vietnam and Russia

by Vu Kim Chung

5-3-2001

On the first visit to Vietnam by a Russian or Soviet head of state, the two countries declared a new strategic partnership. The president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, arrived in Hanoi on February 28, 2001 to begin an official visit to Vietnam. Mr Putin joined President Tran Duc Luong in signing a new strategic partnership that promised closer co-operation between the two countries.

President Tran Duc Luong welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The visit was made at the invitation of President Tran Duc Luong. The Russian president was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Victor Khristenko; Foreign Minister I S Ivanov; the first deputy head of the Presidential Palace's office, D A Medvedev; the deputy head of the Presidential Palace's office and head of the Presidential Palace's Commission for External Relations, S E Prikhodko; the Russian Federation's president's plenipotentiary representative in the far eastern area, K B Pulikovski and the Russian ambassador to Vietnam, V V Ivanov.

The delegation also included the Svetlov province chief, E E Rossel; the general director of the Presidential Palace's National Liaison Information Department, V G Matyukhin; the president of the State Committee on Standardisation and Measures, G P Voronin; the parliament representatives, G P Kuptsov and I G Medvedev; the deputy defence minister and the chairman of the Committee on Technological and Military Co-operation with Foreign Countries, Dmitriev and many other senior officials from the Presidential Palace, government and Russian businesses.

Vietnam to boost trade ties with Russia

Vietnam's Prime Minister Phan Van Khai said that he wanted Vietnam and Russia to focus on specific co-operation projects on a larger scale so that co-operation between the two countries could be more effective. Talking with the Russian deputy prime minister, Victor Khristenko, in Hanoi, Prime Minister Khai expressed his elation at the new development in economic and commercial ties between the two countries. However, he told Mr Khristenko that the two-way trade turnover between the two countries remained modest and far below potential.

President Putin reviews honour guard in Hanoi

Deputy Prime Minister Khristenko arrived in the capital with Putin. The prime minister reaffirmed the close traditional relations between Vietnam and Russia. He said many Vietnamese scientific workers, government and State officials had been trained in the former Soviet Union. Prime Minister Khai also highly valued the scientific potential of Russia, further hoping that Russia would continue providing training to Vietnamese cadres in oil and gas exploitation, nuclear power electricity generation and shipping industry.

He also told Mr Khristenko that Vietnam had always given priority to co-operation and investment to Russia. Prime Minister Khai said the both countries would continue to discuss ways to reduce the price of equipment imported to Vietnam from Russia and to increase the income of Russian specialists working in Vietnam.

Russia solves Vietnam debt issue

Russia said that Vietnam's Soviet era to Moscow had been restructured, as President Vladimir Putin completed the first day of his visit to the country. Mr Putin joined President Tran Duc Luong in signing a new strategic partnership that promises closer co-operation between the two countries.

In the past the issue of Vietnam's Soviet era debt to Russia hampered the development of their political and economic relations. But speaking in Hanoi Russia's Deputy Prime Minister, Victor Khristenko, said that the issue is now completely solved.

Both sides were keen to increase bilateral trade

Debt restructure Vietnam and Russia agreed in September 2000 to cut the Soviet-era debt, previously estimated at $11 billion, by 85% and to allow for repayment of the rest over 23 years. According to Mr Khristenko under the restructuring deal Vietnam would have to pay $100 million a year. He said that the two countries were discussing using the payments for three purposes - reinvestment in Vietnam, training Vietnamese specialists in Russia or covering the debt with goods.

"Concerning the goods, they are supplies of rice and coffee to Russia and third countries," he said.

Seeking more trade

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai talks with Russian President V. Putin in Hanoi, March1

Both Hanoi and Moscow expressed regret that their bi-lateral trade is currently worth only $400 million, considerably less than the value of Hanoi's trade with it's former enemy the United States. They are keen to increase trade, especially in Vietnam's oil and gas sector, in which Russia already has a large stake. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Vietnamese counterpart President Putin said that it would be unforgivable and foolish, to loose the high level of inter-governmental relations which Vietnam and Russia enjoyed in the past. Hanoi and Moscow had particularly close relations during the Vietnam War, when the Soviet Union backed Vietnamese Communist forces against the Americans.

Difficult negotiations

But during the 1990s, the political and economic turmoil in Russia meant that Vietnam became less reliant on Moscow. There were serious talks over the future of the military base at Cam Ranh Bay. During the war, the Americans used Cam Ranh Bay. After the US defeat, Moscow established a huge naval base there. But Russia's lease runs out in 2004 and it was not clear whether they could afford the sums of money that Hanoi was now looking for. Russian officials said that they expected long, difficult negotiations on the issue.

President Tran Duc Luong holds talks with Russian President

President Tran Duc Luong held long talks with his visiting Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Presidential Palace in Ha Noi during the morning of March 1.

Putin with Tran. The visit was the first by a Russian or Soviet leader despite more than 50 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries

He warmly welcomed his guest, the first Russian President to visit Viet Nam. The two men briefed each other about the situation in their countries, agreed to orientations and measures to further develop the comprehensive cooperation in the first years of the 21st century and exchanged views about regional and international issues of mutual concern. President Luong said he was delighted with the encouraging results gained by the Russian people under the Putin presidency. They had maintained political and social stability and economic development while defending their sovereignty and territorial integrity. He believed that led by President Putin and his administration and with warm support of the Russian people, Russia's status in the world would be gradually restored. President Luong thanked the Russian people for their valuable and effective help to Viet Nam in its struggle for independence, freedom and unification. He emphasized that his country's comprehensive cooperation with Russia was an important factor in the success of its renovation, industrialization and modernization.

President Luong reiterated Viet Nam's policy of constantly strengthening and further developing the traditional friendship and multi-form cooperation with Russia as a priority and long-term strategic orientation in the external policy of the Viet Nam Communist Party and State.

National Assembly Chairman Nong Duc Manh talks with Russian President V. Putin in Hanoi today, March1

President Putin praised the achievements of the Vietnamese people through renovation and raising their country's international role. He affirmed that Russia thinks Viet Nam a strategic partner in Southeast Asia and would continue strengthening and developing its comprehensive cooperation with the country. The two Presidents said they were pleased with and highly appreciated the new steps in the development of the multiform cooperation between their countries. They said cooperation between Viet Nam and Russia was having a practical effect, thus contributing to stability and development in each country and strengthening peace and cooperation in the Southeast Asia, the Asia-Pacific and the world.

They agreed to establish a mechanism for regular political dialogue, enhance their international high-level and unceasingly expand the effective cooperation between the two countries, especially in oil and gas, electricity generation, science-technology, technology, education and training.

President Tran Duc Luong receives Russian President V. Putin

President Luong said the first visit to Viet Nam by President Putin was a historical milestone in the more than 50 years relationship between Viet Nam and Russia. It would open a new stage to and bring their multi-form cooperation benefitted to a new height that met the aspirations of the peoples of each country, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. President Putin invited President Tran Duc Luong and his wife to visit Russia at an appropriate time and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.

National Assembly Chairman meets with Russian President

National Assembly Chairman Nong Duc Manh met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ha Noi on March 1. He briefed President Putin about Viet Nam's socio-economic situation, security, national defence and external affairs after 15 years of renovation. He spoke highly of the valuable help given by the former Soviet Union and Russia to Viet Nam's struggle for national independence and national construction. He said that besides renovation in economy, Viet Nam National Assembly was renewing operations; striving to build a legal system; creating legal corridors for all aspects of the social life; implementing the policy to continue building a State governed by the law of the Socialist Viet Nam, a State of the people, by the people and for the people.

President Tran Duc Luong receives in Hanoi Russian President V. Putin

Chairman Manh believed that Viet Nam-Russia close traditional ties that had been tested would be promoted and that President Putin's visit would usher in a new step in development in all aspects of the ties between the two countries. President Putin agreed with Chairman Manh's view of the friendly, traditional, fraternal ties between the Russian and Vietnamese people. The said the fact that many scientists of the two countries had studied and done research together would be a steady basis for future cooperation.

The Russian President said that the Vietnamese people had struggled staunchly for national independence and freedom and were striving to construct and develop the country. In the future, the two countries could promote cooperation in many fields including energy, oil and gas, and science and technology. President Putin said he hoped to expand cooperation with Viet Nam in energy and high-technology industries that Russian had great potential such as the university science.

President Putin highly valued relations between the two parliaments and the past exchange of visits by the Russian Duma, Lower House, Speaker Seleznyov and Chairman Manh. He hoped that bilateral cooperation between the two governments, parliaments and localities of the two countries would be further developed

Vietnam's foreign and defence ministers meet with Russian counterparts

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien met his Russian counterpart I.Ivanov in Ha Noi on March 1. Ivanov accompanied Russian President Putin on his official visit to Viet Nam. The two foreign ministers exchanged views about international and regional issues of common concern in an atmosphere of trust, openess and high unanimity.

Russian President V. Putin calls at the President Ho Chi Minh 's House in Hanoi on March 2

Both said they were delighted at the close and effective coordination between the two countries and agencies for foreign affairs at international fora, especially Asian forums for peace, cooperation and development in the region. They agreed that Viet Nam, in its capacity as President of the Standing Committee of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, and the ASEAN Regional Forum, ARF, would have opportunities to further promote Russia-ASEAN cooperation and the cooperation for peace, stability in Southeast Asia and the Asian-Pacific region. The two ministers were unanimous about several measures to boost cooperative ties between the two foreign ministries.

The same day, Defence Minister Lieut. Gen. Pham Van Tra received Russian Deputy Defence Minister M. A. Dmitriev who is also Chairman of the Russian Federation's Committee for Military Technical Cooperation with Foreign Countries. The two compared notes on issues of mutual concern with a view to strengthening the equal relationship of mutual benefit in the interests of each nation and for peace and stability in the region and the world.

Vietnamese people lukewarm over Putin

The Russian leader's visit was much lauded by the authorities in Vietnam, for obvious reasons because it sort of legitimized Vietnam's so-called communist regime, but in spite of this the Vietnamese public showed little interest in the visit, particularly in comparison to U.S. President Bill Clinton's visit in November 2000 when Vietnam's young flocked to see him, much like they would a pop music star.

On March 2, Mr Putin visited monuments and temples in Hanoi. He laid a wreath at the Monument to Fallen Heroes and another at the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum.

Russian President V. Putin calls at the Literature Temple (Van Mieu) in Hanoi on March 2

'Nobody interested' But most Vietnamese were far more enthusiastic about the arrival of President Clinton and his wife Hilary. "When Clinton came everyone was talking about it," said one office worker. "Nobody seems interested in Putin." In November crowds of people gathered outside Mr Clinton's hotel in Hanoi hoping to catch a glimpse of him. When the US president visited Ho Chi Minh City he was mobbed by young people, but there has been no such turn out for Mr Putin.

Red carpet treatment

Vietnam's Government, though, rolled out the red carpet for the Russian leader, who was given a formal full state welcome ceremony at Hanoi's Presidential Palace. The tightly controlled press published a swathe of articles praising the links between Russian and Vietnam in everything from the fishing industry to folk music. The main Communist Party newspaper, Nhan Dan described Mr Putin's visit as "an important historical event". But as far as the ordinary Vietnamese in the street was concerned, it was a historical non-event. When Mr Clinton came, by contrast, senior journalists were told to ensure that their coverage of his visit was restrained. This seems to indicate that despite assurances from the leadership to the contrary, the Vietnamese have an independent view and control over their feelings and emotions--a lesson to be well-heeded by Vietnam's leadership.

Welcome banners

In an almost hypocrisy, the streets of Hanoi are now bedecked with banners bearing messages such as "welcome to Vietnam Mr Putin!" There were no such banners for Mr Clinton.

Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu receives Russian President Putin in Hanoi on March 2

Speaking in Hanoi's presidential palace, Mr Putin said, "it would be unforgivable and foolish to lose the high level of intergovernmental relations reached in the past." It would seem that the strategic partnership was a sign that Hanoi did not want to become too economically and diplomatically reliant on the US alone. A good way to avoid the economic colonization that befell Vietnam's neighbours by mainly American multinational corporations. According to one analyst, Mr Putin's decision to write off 85 percent of the US$11 billion debt owed by Hanoi for military and development aid during the 1980s was the opening gambit in that strategy. "Vietnam shares Russia's fears about economic globalisation, which is really nothing more than a form of colonization, and the unprecedented military power of the United States," he said. "And the new world order opens up an opportunity to use history as the justification for stronger diplomatic and military links."

That assertion was given credence on March 1 when Mr Putin said negotiations towards further military co-operation were high on his visit's agenda. Mr Putin declined to give details about exactly what weapons systems were being considered, but Vietnam has recently signed deals with Moscow involving the upgrade of warships and the reported supply of two squadrons of Su-27 fighter bombers.

Putin Gets Rousing Send off from Vietnam Alumni

Wrapping up his visit, Russian President Vladimir Putin was given a rousing sendoff on March 2 by thousands of Vietnamese who had studied in the former Soviet Union. He  pledged not to betray a history of cultural cooperation.

Vietnam bestowed the Ho Chi Minh Order was conferred on President Putin at a ceremony on March 1 evening. President Tran Duc Luong pins the Ho Chi Minh Order on President Putin

In the popular highlight of his visit to Vietnam before departing for Moscow, Putin was greeted with cheers by former students -- including current Vietnamese leaders -- who benefitted from educational programs in the Soviet Union. "Long live friendship!" they shouted in Russian and Vietnamese as Putin entered the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Place in Hanoi surrounded by bodyguards. He appeared delighted by his reception. "Our aim is to try not to lose or betray our cooperation in the cultural sphere," he said in a speech shown live on Vietnamese television. "I am glad that our relations, which have lasted already for 50 years were not the object of serious changes because the political mood," he said, referring to the collapse of the Soviet Union ten years before. About 50,000 Vietnamese were trained in the Soviet Union and often remain nostalgic about their experiences even though many found themselves stranded without funding when the old communist system there collapsed.

Putin earlier paid his respects to Moscow-trained revolutionary hero Ho Chi Minh, who led the Moscow-backed fight against U.S.-backed South Vietnam until his death in 1969.

Putin pays respects at tomb

Putin also stood briefly with head bowed at the tomb of the unknown soldier, which commemorates communists killed in the war.

Vietnam-Russia Deal "an Old Box in New Wrapping"

Russia and Vietnam's declaration of the new "strategic partnership" this week amounted to little more than a repackaging of their existing relations and would not alter the power balance in Asia. Russia and its old Cold War ally Vietnam made the declaration pledging strengthened defence, economic and trade cooperation during the visit.

Putin said also that Vietnam wanted to buy new Russian armaments and Moscow was willing to sell it advanced weaponry, but both sides stressed military supplies would be to meet security needs, not to oppose any third country. Analysts said that while talk of strategic partnership might sound dramatic, the declaration was far from representing any sort of regional sea change that would alarm other regional powers, such as Vietnam's northern neighbour China.

"The sober-minded analysis is that they've put bright paper around an old box and they're selling it as something new," said Carl Thayer of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies in Hawaii. "Grandiose declarations of intent and purpose about where we are going in future may be nice sounding ... but the limited capacity of both sides means they can't take take it much further."

ASEAN Considerations

Even if Vietnam and Russia did as pledged maintain regular exchanges on foreign policy issues, Vietnam had to consider what happened if the Association of Southeast Asian nations -- which Hanoi currently chairs -- took a different position to Russia.

"And the main game for Vietnam is locked within ASEAN," Thayer said. While Hanoi stressed its support of Russia's position in opposing the U.S. missile defence system, there was not much support for this position in the region, Thayer said. And, while Vietnam aims to maintain balanced relations with world powers, its future interests, and those of its regional partners, have become increasingly linked with its former enemy the United States, not Russia.

"All the hot buttons in ASEAN, in e-commerce, e-trade, technology and overcoming the digital divide, where is the leader? The United States!," Thayer said. "It's more America and Japan than Russia who are going to determine the fate here."

Even Russia's desire to extend its lease at the strategic naval base at Cam Ranh Bay off south central Vietnam was of little concern, diplomats said. A senior U.S. official in Hanoi said on March 1 Washington did not regard this as a threat.

"What the Vietnamese decide to do with it is not a critical factor with us," he said. "If they in fact agree to continue the lease to the Russians for another five years of however long it might be, it won't make any difference to us. They've been there for a long time and it's a logistical opportunity for them and it's not a factor, it's no threat."

Rebalancing act

A Western diplomat in Hanoi said Vietnam -- with its key position as Russia's interlocutor in ASEAN -- now had the a much stronger hand in its relationship with Russia.

"It's very much a rebalancing of the relationship between Russia and Vietnam," he said. "In the past Vietnam has been the recipient and Russia the donor. It's becoming more that Russia needs Vietnam as much as Vietnam needs Russia."

"A strategic partnership, or whatever that means, is kind of inevitable when you have only a few friends in the region," he said referring to Russia. What Russia had to offer Vietnam did not go much beyond weapons and oil industry cooperation, analysts said. Thayer said Putin's comments on arms were an indication of Russia's efforts to nudge Vietnam towards more sophisticated -- and more expensive -- weapons systems. These included the SU-30 fighter rather than the SU-27 and air-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles. This was more modern equipment that Vietnam currently had, but not cutting edge, and within Moscow's policy of not selling destabilising technology, Thayer said.

"So you sell some to China, you sell some to Vietnam,' he said. "There's nothing that the Russians are going to do to get the Chinese or any other regional powers upset."

Beside the desire to peddle arms, analysts pointed to Putin's domestic agenda.

"It's playing to a nationalistic audience and to elite beliefs that they are not getting the respect they deserve," Thayer said. "This is an indication of Russian pretension. Yes, they are a major power because of their U.S. status and possessing a nuclear arsenal, but beyond that they have no capability and their own stability is an open question."