Strengthening the traditional relationship between Vietnam and Belarus

On the afternoon of May 16th (Vietnam time), in Minsk, immediately following the solemn official welcoming ceremony at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held talks with Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myiasnikovich.

The two Prime Ministers pose for a photo together before their meeting. (Photo: Duc Tam/VNA)

In a traditionally friendly, open, and mutually understanding atmosphere, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister Myiasnikovich informed each other about the political, socio-economic situation and foreign policy of each country; exchanged views on bilateral relations and many international and regional issues of mutual interest.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung congratulated the Belarusian people on their achievements in socio-economic development, maintaining political stability, and implementing a multilateral foreign policy. He emphasized that, while pursuing an independent, self-reliant, diversified, and multilateral foreign policy, and actively integrating into the international and regional arenas, Vietnam always attaches importance to consolidating and developing relations with traditional friendly countries, with Belarus being one of the priorities.

Prime Minister Myiasnikovich highly appreciated the great achievements that the Vietnamese people have made in recent years, contributing to enhancing Vietnam's position and prestige in the region and the world. Prime Minister Myiasnikovich affirmed that developing friendly relations and cooperation on a mutually beneficial basis with Vietnam is one of the important directions in Belarus's foreign policy.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the positive development of bilateral relations in recent times and agreed to continue maintaining contact and exchanging delegations at all levels, especially at the high level, in order to strengthen political trust and create conditions to promote bilateral relations, with a focus on promoting cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, and investment.

The two Prime Ministers focused their discussions on measures to increase bilateral trade and investment between the two countries in the coming period, emphasizing the groundbreaking significance of the early conclusion of negotiations and signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Customs Union comprising Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan; and strengthening cooperation in the industrial sector, including the establishment of joint ventures to produce industrial equipment, providing credit, and supporting exports.

Both sides agreed to enhance the effectiveness of the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Trade and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, and were determined to successfully implement the tasks set out in the Economic Cooperation Program for the period 2013-2015.

Both sides highly appreciated the achievements made in the past period in the fields of science and technology, education and training, military technology, culture, sports, tourism, etc.

The Belarusian side affirmed its readiness to assist Vietnam in training technology experts and provide more scholarships for Vietnamese students to study in Belarus. Both sides agreed to organize Vietnamese Culture Days in Belarus and Belarusian Culture Days in Vietnam.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister Myiasnikovich expressed satisfaction with the close cooperation and mutual support between Vietnam and Belarus at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and other international forums and organizations, for the benefit of the people of both countries, and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development. Both sides supported maintaining peace, stability, safety, and maritime security in the East Sea, and resolving disputes through peaceful means based on international law.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung thanked the leaders and authorities of Belarus for always creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live, study, and work there, and expressed his confidence that the Vietnamese community will continue to receive assistance from Belarus, integrate into the host country, and make positive contributions to the development of friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung thanked Prime Minister Myiasnikovich for the warm and cordial welcome extended to the delegation and respectfully invited Prime Minister Myiasnikovich to pay an official visit to Vietnam. Prime Minister Myiasnikovich sincerely thanked him and happily accepted the invitation. The timing of the visit will be arranged through diplomatic channels.

Following the talks, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister Myiasnikovich signed a Joint Communiqué on the results of the official visit to the Republic of Belarus; witnessed the signing of the Agreement on cooperation in the field of information and communication, the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of electricity, and the Plan for implementing the Agreement on cooperation in the field of standards, measurement and quality for the period 2013-2015.
Following that, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister Myiasnikovich met with the press to announce the results of their talks.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stated that the talks were successful. In a spirit of openness, trust, and cooperation, the two Prime Ministers informed each other about the situation in their respective countries, exchanged views, and agreed on major directions to promote multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Belarus.

To enhance political cooperation, both sides agreed to continue the mechanism of exchanging delegations at all levels, especially at the high level, in order to strengthen trust, coordinate actions, and promote the development of cooperation, particularly in the fields of economy, trade, and investment, creating qualitative changes for bilateral cooperation.

The two sides also focused on discussing measures to increase bilateral trade, balance the trade balance, and increase investment between the two countries in the coming period. Both sides agreed to enhance the effectiveness of the Intergovernmental Committee, determined to successfully implement the plans outlined in the Economic Cooperation Program for the period 2013-2015; to take proactive measures to support import and export activities between the two countries; and to promote the early conclusion of negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Belarus-Kazakhstan-Russia.

Both sides also agreed on the need to further expand cooperation in other areas such as science and technology, education and training, culture, sports, and tourism.

Prime Minister Myiasnikovich emphasized that Vietnam is a reliable traditional partner of Belarus in Southeast Asia. Belarus is always striving to promote cooperation between the two countries in various fields, especially in the areas of economics, trade, and investment.

In the areas of trade and investment, Prime Minister Myiasnikovich proposed that both sides should establish mechanisms to facilitate businesses from both countries to promote trade and investment; affirming that the Belarusian Development Bank is ready to cooperate with Vietnamese partners to provide financial support and promote trade and investment development between the two countries.

Prime Minister Myiasnikovich expressed his confidence that the traditional friendship, as well as the great potential and advantages for cooperation between the two countries, will serve as a basis for the Vietnam-Belarus relationship to continue developing more deeply and effectively in the future.

According to (VNA) - LT