Russia supports Vietnam in training agricultural and veterinary personnel

The relationship between Vietnam and Russia has developed well in recent years, with many Vietnamese scholars returning from Russia making significant contributions to their homeland. In the fields of agriculture, agricultural trade, forestry, and aquaculture, the two sides have reached approximately USD 1 billion in trade, accounting for about 20% of the total value of goods traded between the two countries.

Currently, the cooperation between Vietnam and Russia in agriculture primarily focuses on trade. Russian FDI in Vietnam is not significant, mostly from Vietnam to Russia, with projects such as TH True Milk's dairy farming project worth USD 2.7 billion.

Leading the Russian Embassy delegation to work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was Vladimir Murashkin, the First Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Vietnam, Head of the Representative Office of the Russian Cooperation Agency in Vietnam, and Director of the Russian Science and Culture Center in Hanoi.

Vladimir Murashkin stated that the agricultural relationship between Vietnam and Russia has developed over the years and will further enhance in the future.

"For the agricultural industry to develop, a strong and skilled workforce is needed. Russia has the infrastructure and long-standing universities with good experience in the veterinary field. In recent years, the Russian government has provided about 1,000 scholarships to Vietnamese candidates, including those in the veterinary and animal husbandry fields," Murashkin informed.

The First Secretary mentioned that the recent Inter-Governmental Commission meeting between the two countries reached an agreement to establish a network of Vietnamese-Russian universities, starting with technical universities. Based on this, Murashkin proposed both sides cooperate to establish a network of universities between Vietnam and Russia in the field of animal husbandry and aquaculture.

Russia affirmed that all candidates or officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development sent to Russia for study and professional improvement, besides theoretical programs, will undergo internships at production facilities and acquire specific skills after training.

On the side of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien hopes that Russia will actively cooperate and increase the number of Vietnamese seafood export companies. At the same time, he proposed that Russia consider importing fishmeal, chicken eggs, and pet food from Vietnam.

The Deputy Minister proposed that both sides continue to support and assist the high-yield dairy farm project of TH True Milk in Russia to meet the set deadlines and become a model of investment cooperation between the two countries.

Furthermore, Russia continues to strengthen scientific cooperation and training with Vietnam in agriculture, especially in academic blocks.

Echoing Mr. Murashkin's sentiments, the Deputy Minister hopes that both sides can discuss the possibility of supporting advanced training for Vietnamese officials in Russia, as well as exchanging cooperation possibilities and learning experiences between Russian and Vietnamese officials in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and aquaculture.