<p>Hanoi: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Vietnam early on Thursday for talks with the country's Communist leaders after concluding a defence pact with North Korea for his final stop on a two-nation tour of Asia.</p><p>Putin's aircraft touched down at Hanoi's international airport, where he was met on a red carpet by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, according to a <em>Reuters</em> witness.</p><p>In an opinion piece timed for his visit, Putin applauded the Southeast Asian Communist-ruled country for supporting "a pragmatic way to solve the crisis" in Ukraine, in comments published in Vietnam's Communist Party newspaper.</p>.Putin and North Korea's Kim sign comprehensive strategic partnership pact: Report. <p>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</p><p>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.</p><p>Vietnam has been gearing up for a full state welcome for Putin, his first visit since 2017 and his fifth in total.</p><p>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. </p>
<p>Hanoi: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Vietnam early on Thursday for talks with the country's Communist leaders after concluding a defence pact with North Korea for his final stop on a two-nation tour of Asia.</p><p>Putin's aircraft touched down at Hanoi's international airport, where he was met on a red carpet by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, according to a <em>Reuters</em> witness.</p><p>In an opinion piece timed for his visit, Putin applauded the Southeast Asian Communist-ruled country for supporting "a pragmatic way to solve the crisis" in Ukraine, in comments published in Vietnam's Communist Party newspaper.</p>.Putin and North Korea's Kim sign comprehensive strategic partnership pact: Report. <p>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</p><p>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.</p><p>Vietnam has been gearing up for a full state welcome for Putin, his first visit since 2017 and his fifth in total.</p><p>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. </p>