Russian President Vladimir Putin was greeted with a 21-gun salute in Vietnam during a military ceremony on Thursday, marking the commencement of his visit to the Communist-led country.

The welcoming event underscored Vietnam's commitment to strengthening ties with Moscow under their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Vietnamese President To Lam congratulated Putin on his recent re-election and praised Russia's achievements, highlighting its "domestic political stability" during their meeting in Hanoi.

"I congratulate our comrade for receiving overwhelming support in the recent presidential election, which reflects the confidence of the Russian people," Lam remarked.

In response, Putin emphasized that enhancing the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam remains a top priority for Russia. He also expressed respect for dialogue within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which Vietnam plays an active role.

Putin's visit to Vietnam comes as part of his two-nation tour of Asia, following the conclusion of a defense pact with North Korea earlier in the week. The trip has drawn criticism from the United States, a key partner of Vietnam, which upgraded diplomatic relations with Hanoi last year and remains its top export market.

A statement from the US embassy voiced disapproval, asserting that no country should provide a platform for Putin to promote Russia's actions in Ukraine. Russia has faced sanctions from the US and its Western allies since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which Moscow describes as a "special military operation."

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, charges he denies. Notably, neither Vietnam nor Russia are members of the ICC.

Vietnam marks the third nation Putin has visited since his fifth-term inauguration in May, following trips to China and North Korea. (ILKHA)