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Hai Phong is presented with major opportunities to engage more effectively in cooperation between Vietnam and Russia.
The ongoing State visit to Russia by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee and President To Lam and his spouse, together with a high-level Vietnamese delegation, has opened up new room for cooperation within the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in general and created a foundation for Hai Phong to expand relations with Russian localities and partners in particular.
Solid foundation, broad potential
Vietnam-Russia relations are built on a foundation of traditional friendship, close ties and political trust that have been diligently nurtured by generations of leaders and people of the two countries.
The visit therefore continues the two countries' enduring friendship and strategic trust, marking a new milestone of great significance in elevating bilateral relations to a new level that is more comprehensive, profound and substantive. At the same time, it provides favorable conditions for localities of the two countries to expand cooperation and translate the major orientations agreed upon by their senior leaders into concrete actions.
According to Duong Anh Dien, Chairman of the Hai Phong Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association, with its new development position and scale, Hai Phong is presented with major opportunities to participate more effectively in this cooperation. The city covers nearly 3,200 km2, has a population of more than 4.6 million and an economic scale of over USD29 billion, ranking third nationwide, and is the only locality to have maintained double-digit growth for 11 consecutive years.
In particular, its developed seaport, logistics and industrial systems give Hai Phong distinct advantages in international trade connectivity. The city is becoming deeply involved in production, supply and export chains and is home to many businesses whose products have reached major markets around the world.
Hai Phong has friendship and cooperation relations with St. Petersburg, Primorsky Krai and Vladivostok, while there is further potential to expand connections with Moscow and other Russian localities.
Similarities in marine economy, seaports, logistics, industry, science and technology, and education open up room for both sides to complement each other's strengths and seek new cooperation models.
Elevating cooperation for practical results
Hai Phong and Russian localities and partners have built up a process of cooperation across various fields, creating a foundation for expanding relations in the new period.
High-level exchanges between the two countries' leaders on strategic issues, long-term cooperation orientations and the elevation of Vietnam-Russia relations brought about new opportunities, linking bilateral cooperation with each country's development goals.
In this context, Hai Phong is proactively reviewing the results of cooperation over the past time while identifying more clearly its priority areas, suitable partners and effective forms of cooperation, bringing its strengths into play and meeting the city's development requirements in the new period.
In reality, there remains substantial room for cooperation between the two sides. At a meeting with a delegation from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Kapyrin Igor Nikolaevich, Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong People's Committee Hoang Minh Cuong said that the city had four projects by Russian investors with a total investment of USD5.4 million, mainly in manufacturing, wood processing and trade. In 2025, two-way trade between Hai Phong and Russia reached nearly USD30 million in textiles and garments, agricultural products, machinery and equipment.
As Hai Phong expands its relations, the city has been actively promoting cooperation with Russia. The visit to Hai Phong by the Governor of Primorsky Krai in May 2025, a meeting with a delegation from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in May 2026, and NOVATEK's exploration of the possibility of investing in LNG infrastructure show that channels for connectivity are expanding. These connections need to be further translated into concrete outcomes by seeking suitable partners, promoting projects and expanding cooperation among businesses.
Alongside economy, education continues to be an important channel of cooperation. Relations between Tran Phu Senior High School for the Gifted, Hong Bang Senior High School and Vietnam Maritime University and educational institutions in Moscow, Tomsk, Vladivostok and Saint Petersburg have led to student and teacher exchanges, as well as cooperation in maritime training, natural sciences, STEM/STEAM, digital technology and AI. Building on these foundations will help establish stable, long-term connections while developing human resources and cooperation networks to serve development and foster friendship between Hai Phong and Russian partners.
BUI HANH
