President Sang will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Head of the Presidential Office Dao Viet Trung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh and General Director of the Vietnam News Agency Nguyen Duc Loi.
During his stay from May 7 to 10, he plans to discuss sustainable economic development experiences and measures to boost bilateral co-operation in an intensive and effective manner with Russian leaders.
Political relations between the nations have been continually consolidated on the basis of mutual trust, as evident from the regular all-level delegation exchanges.
Russia currently ranks 17th among 101 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam, with 106 projects worth nearly US$2 billion, focusing on mining, processing and manufacturing industries. Viet Nam has 19 projects worth $2.47 billion in Russia, mainly in oil and gas and trade sectors.
Since 1991, Viet Nam and Russia have inked more than 100 co-operation documents in various fields, ranging from economics, oil and gas, nuclear energy and education-training, as well as culture-science and military techniques.
The President will also make a state visit to the Czech Republic from May 10 to 13, and pay an official visit to Azerbaijan from May 13 to 15.
Favourable conditions
In an interview with Russian television before visiting Moscow, President Sang said the victory over the fascist axis by the Soviet Union and allies 70 years ago created extremely favourable conditions for the struggle of Vietnamese people.
"Under the profound leadership of late President Ho Chi Minh, the strong national solidarity, and inspiration from the victory of progressive forces in the world, Vietnamese people successfully made it to their own August Revolution in 1945," he said.
Sang said the revolution gave birth to the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam on September 2, 1945. And five years later, the Soviet Union officially recognised and set up diplomatic ties with Viet Nam.
"The move marked an important milestone in the relationship between Viet Nam and the Soviet Union [now Russia], setting foundations for strong friendship and co-operation," the President said.
"Late President Ho Chi Minh said that the Soviet Union – Viet Nam friendship was an essential factor ensuring the Vietnamese victory in the fight for national liberation and defence.
"In addition to the Soviet Union's assistance to help Viet Nam win the 1975 victory, nearly 300 industrial projects were also constructed. That was the most lively evidence of the Soviet Union's support for Viet Nam during the war time," he said.
Borrowing a Russian proverb that says "friendship and brotherhood are more precious than any other assets," the President said he was strongly convinced that the Viet Nam – Russia partnership would never stop growing, satisfying the interests and expectations of both countries for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region and in the world.
"History needs to be respected and honestly disseminated to future generations. The silent sacrifice of simple persons in the fight for national defence and against facism must be honoured," President Sang said.
"Seventy years have gone by, but historic lessons from the fight against fascism still maintains their values. They require unity and co-operation to protect peace, and prevent risks of war and conflict; to respect legitimate interests of nations on the basis of international law through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms; as well as to intensify the understanding, solidarity and friendship among peoples in the world.
"We should be vigilant over attempts to rewrite the history as well as attempts to restore fascism," the Presidnet said.
