SOUTH EAST ASIAAsia News Network

Vietnam values Poland protecting Vietnamese citizens

The Vietnamese foreign minister expressed hope that Poland would provide shelter for the Vietnamese people on the journey from Ukraine.

The pledge was made at a March 4 meeting between the two foreign ministers.

Both sides commented on how the “friendship and cooperation” between the two countries in the defence sector had improved.

But Vietnam and Laos cannot afford to condemn Russia, said analysts.

He is expected to meet with Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and other figures in the capital Naypyidaw.

As of Thursday (March 3), most Vietnamese citizens had travelled out of Kyiv and Odessa, with hundreds in Kharkiv evacuated.

While the region is not a major trade partner of Ukraine and Russia, analysts noted that it remains a net importer of oil, wheat and corn.

The White House summit had been expected earlier in the year, but scheduling was delayed by Covid-19 concerns.

The foreign ministers also pledged to further elevate cooperation on a parliamentary level through the signing of an MoU.

Despite China's courtship, misgivings persist. Beijing’s stance on Russia is likely to heighten anxieties in South-east Asia.