The 2025 Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee on the Joint Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center held in Russia

Vladivostok (Russian Federation), May 12 - Continuing a series of official activities in Vladivostok, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Minister of National Defense, Chairman of the Vietnam Subcommittee, and Co-Chairman of the Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee on the Joint Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center (VRTC), together with Mr. Mogilevskiy Konstantin Ilich, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Russian Subcommittee, Co-Chairman of the Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee on VRTC, co-chaired the 2025 Standing Session of the Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee on VRTC.

Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and Mr. Mogilevskiy Konstantin Ilich co-chaired the session.

The session was held in a particularly significant context, taking place immediately after the official visit to the Russian Federation by General Secretary To Lam. Against this backdrop, the discussions and outcomes of the meeting are expected to play an important role in translating the shared understanding between the two countries’ top leaders into concrete actions - further advancing bilateral cooperation and reaffirming the commitment to supporting the continued operation, effectiveness, and development potential of VRTC.

At the session, the Standing Committee heard reports from the Co-General Directors of VRTC, highlighting the results of scientific research activities carried out from November 2024 to May 2025, as well as updates on coordination with relevant agencies.

Overview of the working session.

The Committee recognized and praised the Center’s scientific and technological accomplishments, along with its efforts in strengthening research capacity. A key highlight was the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Center and Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor), which aims to jointly develop laboratory infrastructure for epidemic prevention and control.

In his remarks at the session, Mr. Mogilevsky Konstantin Ilich, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, highlighted that over the past six months, since the 35th session of the Coordinating Committee, both sides, despite encountering various challenges, have effectively overcome these obstacles and made active progress in advancing the tasks outlined by the Coordinating Committee, resulting in significant achievements.

Also at the event, Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien extended his sincere gratitude to the State, Government of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and the relevant agencies for their continuous support in advancing the tasks outlined during the 35th session of the Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee on VRTC. He particularly acknowledged the sponsorship and transfer of the “Professor Gagarinsky” research vessel, the second mobile testing vehicle, and the ongoing efforts to enhance cooperation in building laboratories for disease prevention and control. These contributions, along with the transfer of technology for scientific research within the framework of the Center, are vital to strengthening defense and scientific cooperation, as well as reinforcing the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The heads of both sides signed the official minutes of the meeting.

Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien expressed his hope that in the coming period, both Subcommittees will direct the Center to take proactive and decisive action, focusing on accelerating the implementation of key tasks. He emphasized the importance of finalizing the draft and aiming for both governments to sign a protocol on technology transfer for scientific research within the framework of VRTC by the end of 2025.

Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and Mr. Mogilevskiy Konstantin Ilich.

Concluding the session, the two heads of both sides exchanged the handover record of the scientific research vessel “Professor Gagarinsky” and signed the official minutes of the meeting.

On the sidelines of the session, a ceremony was held to present the Second-Class Medal "For Services to the Fatherland," awarded by the State of the Russian Federation to Mr. Andrey Nikolaevich Kuznetsov, the Russian General Director of VRTC.

* Prior to the session, Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien had a bilateral meeting with Admiral Viktor Nikolayevich Liina, Commander of the Russian Pacific Fleet. Also present at the meeting was Mr. Mogilevsky Konstantin Ilich, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien had a bilateral meeting with Admiral Viktor Nikolayevich Liina, Commander of the Russian Pacific Fleet.

At the meeting, Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien highlighted the continued effectiveness of bilateral defense cooperation between Vietnam and Russia, which has been implemented in accordance with existing agreements and cooperation mechanisms. He underscored the significance of the scientific research vessel “Professor Gagarinsky”, officially handed over on May 11 by the Government of the Russian Federation to VRTC. He described the vessel as a vivid symbol of the strong bilateral relationship -representing a new icon of Vietnam-Russia cooperation and serving as a “shared home at sea” for scientists from both nations. More than a gift, he said, the vessel reflects the deep traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and serves as motivation for further joint scientific contributions.

Looking ahead, Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien proposed that the two sides continue to strengthen cooperation in several key areas, including maintaining effective cooperation mechanisms, training, military-to-military and service-to-service collaboration, scientific research partnerships, and coordination within international and multilateral defense forums.

In response, Admiral Viktor Nikolayevich Liina expressed his gratitude to Vietnam for for facilitating opportunities for the two navies to engage and exchange information. He noted that the Russian Federation possesses substantial experience in the areas of cooperation proposed and reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to enhance collaboration based on Vietnam’s needs and priorities.

Source: QĐND online

Ngoc Nguyen VTRC translated