Vietnamese President Thu Lam congratulated Putin on his re-election and praised Russia's achievements.
 "Vietnam welcomes Russian President Putin, pledges to strengthen diplomatic ties")
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives at Noi Bai International Airport for a visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, June 20, 2024. REUTERS/Atit PerawongmethaAP Seoul
Russian President Vladimir Putin was welcomed with a 21-gun salute at a military ceremony in Vietnam on Thursday, where he was among the communist country's top leaders to praise Moscow's comprehensive strategic partnership and pledge to strengthen ties.
Vietnamese President Thu Lam met with Putin in Hanoi, congratulating him on his re-election and praising Russia's achievements, including “domestic political stability.”
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“Once again, I would like to congratulate Comrade Lam for garnering overwhelming support in the recent presidential election, confirming the trust of the Russian people,” Lin said, with Putin responding that strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam is one of Russia's priorities.
The Russian leader said he respects dialogue with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a regional bloc, in which Vietnam plays an active role.
Putin arrived early on Thursday, the latest stop on a two-nation tour of Asia after signing a defense pact with North Korea.
Vietnam's hosting of Putin has drawn criticism from key partner the United States, which strengthened diplomatic ties with Hanoi last year and is also Vietnam's largest export market.
In a statement earlier this week, the U.S. Embassy said no country should give Putin a platform to push Russia's war in Ukraine.
Russia was subject to U.S.-led Western sanctions after invading Ukraine in February 2022 in what it called a “special military operation.” In March 2023, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin on suspicion of war crimes in Ukraine, charges he denies.
Neither Vietnam nor Russia are members of the ICC.
The Southeast Asian nation will be the third country Putin has visited since taking the oath of office for a fifth term in May, after China and North Korea.
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