DAV Ambassador Forum: Russian Ambassador visits and dialogues with DAV students and staff

The dialogue drew the participation of President of Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam, Assoc. Prof Nguyen Vu Tung (chairman), Valentin Laptev, Third Secretary of Russian Embassy in Viet Nam, Prof. Dr Vu Duong Huan (former Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine, former Consulate General of Viet Nam in Vladivostock - Russia), Dr Nguyen Tuan Viet (Dean of International Politics & Diplomacy Faculty), lecturers and students from International Politics & Diplomacy Faculty.

In his opening speech, Ambassador Konstantin V. Vnukov affirmed that Russia was an Eurasian great power, harmoniously combining Western and Eastern features. Russia’s national emblem was from Konstaninopol with a double-headed eagle facing two sides of the Earth. The importance of the Eastern direction in Russian foreign policy was argued in the 18th century by Mikhail V. Lomonosov, the founder of Russian science and education.

Ambassador Vnukov said that Russia’s strength would increase owing to Sibir and the Northern Ocean. Russia and Eastern people established ties and exchanges several decades ago. For example, in terms of Viet Nam, Russia established its first Consulate in Sai Gon in 1906. This proved that Russia’s Eastern policy has actually existed for a long time. It is not a newly emerged policy formed due to the altered geopolitical situation as the US shifted to Asia.

At the end of the 20th century, the Asia-Pacific region was flourishing, and Russia saw the potential of its participation in different entities, primarily ASEAN, APEC, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Eurasian Economic Union. The 2016 foreign policy theory recognized Russia’s prioritizing the Asia-Pacific region, including Viet Nam, its comprehensive strategic partner and a lifelong, intimate friend.

Throughout world history, it is hard to find any ethnicities that are spiritually close to each other despite linguistic, cultural, habitual and customary differences. The two countries developed comprehensive ties in all aspects: politics - diplomacy, economics - trade, military, education, culture and tourism. Notably, cooperation in military and technology - military between the two countries reflect great mutual trust.

The year 2019 - 2020 is the first cross-year in the history of relations between the two countries: Viet Nam Year in Russia and Russian Year in Viet Nam. Within that framework, there are more than 150 estimated joint activities between the two countries in all cooperative fields. The Ambassador believed that the continuity in the development of two countries’ relations is the spotlight in peace and stability maintenance in the Asia - Pacific region.

After the presentation, Ambassador Vnukov received several questions from students and staff related to Russia’s Eastern direction, Russia - United States relations as well as Viet Nam’s role in connecting Russia with ASEAN, etc...

The dialogue offered the Academy’s staff and students inspirations and new approaches.