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Vietnam, which officially pursues a neutral foreign policy it calls “bamboo diplomacy” in its relations with world powers, has abstained from condemning Russia’s attack on Ukraine, a stance that Western countries view as too close to the Kremlin
The Southeast Asian country will be the third nation Putin has visited, after China and North Korea, since he was sworn in for a fifth term in May.
Vietnam has been gearing up for a full state welcome for Putin, his first visit since 2017 and his fifth in total.
As well as holding talks with Vietnam’s top leaders, Putin will attend wreath-laying ceremonies including at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, housing the embalmed corpse of Vietnam’s founding leader.
