Vietnam honours Russian friend with Friendship Order

The Friendship Order, the highest distinction granted by the Vietnamese State to foreigners, has been bestowed upon Anatoli Dmitrievich Artamonov, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on the Budget and Financial Markets and former Governor of Kaluga Oblast.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi, on behalf of the President of Vietnam, presented the order at a ceremony held on November 4.

Speaking at the event, Khoi said the Vietnamese President's decision to present the Friendship Order to Artamonov reflects Vietnam’s respect for and recognition of his contributions to the cooperation between Kaluga Oblast and Vietnam. His efforts have helped deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Russia.

During his tenure as Governor of Kaluga and in his current post, Artamonov has actively supported investment projects by Vietnamese enterprises, especially the TH Group’s major dairy project in Kaluga. The project, backed by high-ranking leaders of both countries including President Vladimir Putin, late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and Party General Secretary To Lam has become a vivid example of the effective, practical, and mutually beneficial cooperation between Vietnam and Russia in the new period.

Thanking the Vietnamese leadership for the honour, Artamonov said that amid complex global geopolitical developments, the two countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to grow, with regular exchanges at all levels, including the close cooperation between the Federation Council and the Vietnamese National Assembly in sharing legislative experience and coordinating actions at international forums.

Artamonov also spoke highly of Vietnam’s remarkable socio-economic progress. He noted that from a war-torn country once receiving support from the Soviet Union, Vietnam has achieved impressive economic growth under the clear-sighted leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

He added Russia is eager to learn from Vietnam’s experience, and that Vietnam is enhancing its foothold in hi-tech manufacturing, becoming not only a gateway but also a key partner in Russia's strategy for expanding cooperation with Asia.