Promoting Vietnam - Russian Federation maritime cooperation

On September 17, 2025, in Hanoi , Vietnamese Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh had a meeting with Assistant to the President, Chairman of the Russian Federation Maritime Council Nikolai Platonovich Patrushev.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Nikolai Platonovich Patrushev emphasized that the Vietnam- Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is growing, especially in the maritime and shipbuilding sectors. Russia has strengths in science and technology, and the capacity to design and manufacture all types of ships, from fishing boats to passenger ships, while Vietnam plays an important role in the Asian shipbuilding industry. Therefore, the two sides have great potential for cooperation in the fields of shipbuilding, maritime transport, logistics and trade. Mr. Patrushev expressed his wish that Vietnamese enterprises participate in the Northern Sea Route - Russia's strategic shipping route connecting Europe and Asia via the Arctic Ocean.

Presidential Assistant, Chairman of the Federal Maritime Council of Russia Nikolai Platonovich Patrushev emphasized the importance of maritime cooperation as a key factor in the comprehensive Russia-Vietnam relationship and expressed confidence in the meeting and exchange with Minister Tran Hong Minh.

The Russian Federation also proposed cooperation in building new shipyards, modernizing existing facilities in Vietnam, and establishing research and testing laboratories in the maritime field. Mr. Patrushev affirmed that maritime cooperation is of key importance in Russia-Vietnam relations and believes that talks with the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction will open up new cooperation opportunities.

Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade A. Karimov proposed expanding cooperation in research and production of robots, communication equipment, geology, and oil pipelines; and invited Vietnam to attend the NEVA Exhibition and Conference - the world's leading event on civil shipbuilding. Representatives of Russian enterprises such as FESCO and Delo shared the results of transport and logistics cooperation achieved and expressed their desire to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in the fields of logistics infrastructure, logistics and human resource training.

Appreciating the proposals, Minister Tran Hong Minh affirmed that this is a favorable time to bring Vietnam-Russia maritime cooperation to a new level. The Minister suggested that the Russian side soon complete the procedures for signing the Protocol amending the 1993 Maritime Trade Agreement, and at the same time sign a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Russian Maritime Council and the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction.

In the field of shipbuilding, Minister Tran Hong Minh proposed that Russia coordinate in developing shipbuilding industrial zones in Vietnam; encourage Russian investors to research and participate in developing seaport systems in accordance with Vietnam's regulations and commitments to open the market in the WTO. He also emphasized that both sides need to create conditions for businesses to expand the Vietnam - Vladivostok container transport route, study the possibility of establishing a joint venture to exploit maritime transport, and at the same time increase the exchange of data on ships and crew members to reform administrative procedures.

Minister Tran Hong Minh highly appreciated the North-South International Transport Corridor initiative proposed by Russia, saying that participating in this project will open up opportunities for Vietnamese goods to access new markets. He assigned the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration to study the possibility of participating in the project, and at the same time act as a focal point to provide information to Russian investors.

At the end of the talks, Minister Tran Hong Minh and Assistant to the President, Chairman of the Russian Federation Maritime Council Nikolai Platonovich Patrushev agreed to continue to maintain information exchange and promote specific cooperation programs, especially in the fields of maritime and shipbuilding, thereby contributing to the stronger development of the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive friendship and cooperation in the coming time.