Strengthening traditional Vietnam-Belarus relations
On the afternoon of May 16 (Vietnam time), in the capital Minsk, right after the official welcoming ceremony solemnly held at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held talks with Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myiasnikovich.
The two Prime Ministers took a photo together before the talks. (Photo: Duc Tam/VNA)
In an atmosphere of traditional friendship, openness and mutual understanding, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister Myiasnikovich informed each other about the political, socio-economic situation and foreign policies of each country; exchanged views on bilateral relations and many international and regional issues of mutual concern.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung congratulated the Belarusian people on their achievements in socio-economic development, maintaining political stability, implementing a multilateral foreign policy, and emphasized that while implementing a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, multilateralization of international relations, and active and proactive international and regional integration, Vietnam always attaches importance to consolidating and developing relations with traditional friendly countries, of which Belarus is one of the priorities.
Prime Minister Myiasnikovich highly appreciated the great achievements that the Vietnamese people have made in recent times, contributing to enhancing the position and prestige of Vietnam in the region and the world. Prime Minister Myiasnikovich affirmed that developing friendly and cooperative relations on the basis of mutual benefit with Vietnam is one of the important orientations in Belarus' foreign policy.
The two sides expressed satisfaction with the positive development of bilateral relations in recent times and agreed to continue maintaining contacts and exchanges of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones, to enhance political trust and create conditions to promote bilateral relations with a focus on promoting cooperation in the fields of economics, trade and investment.
The two Prime Ministers focused on discussing measures to increase bilateral trade turnover and investment between the two countries in the coming time, emphasizing the breakthrough significance of soon concluding negotiations and signing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Customs Union including Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan; strengthening cooperation in the industrial sector, including the establishment of joint ventures to produce industrial equipment, provide credit, and support exports.
The two sides agreed to enhance the effectiveness of the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic-Trade and Scientific-Technological Cooperation, and are determined to successfully carry out the tasks set out in the Economic Cooperation Program for the 2013-2015 period.
The two sides highly appreciated the results achieved in recent times in the fields of science and technology, education and training, military technology, culture, sports, tourism, etc.
Belarus affirmed its readiness to help Vietnam train technology experts and provide more scholarships for Vietnamese students to study in Belarus. The two sides agreed to organize Vietnamese Cultural Days in Belarus and Belarusian Cultural Days in Vietnam.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister Myiasnikovich expressed their satisfaction with the fact that Vietnam and Belarus always closely coordinate and support each other at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, other international forums and organizations, for the benefit of the two peoples, for peace, stability, cooperation and development. The two sides support the maintenance of peace, stability, safety and maritime security in the East Sea, and the settlement of disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law.
On this occasion, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung thanked the leaders and authorities at all levels of Belarus for always creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live, study and do business here, and expressed his belief that the Vietnamese community will continue to receive assistance from Belarus, integrate into the host country and actively contribute to the development of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung thanked Prime Minister Myiasnikovich for his warm welcome and cordial welcome 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 time of the visit will be arranged through diplomatic channels.
After the talks, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister Myiasnikovich signed a Joint Communique 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 communications, the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of electric energy, and the Implementation Plan of the Cooperation Agreement in the field of standards, measurement and quality for the 2013-2015 period.
Afterwards, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister Myiasnikovich met with the press to announce the results of the talks.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said the talks were successful. In the spirit of openness, trust and cooperation, the two Prime Ministers informed each other about the situation in each country, exchanged opinions and agreed on major orientations to promote multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Belarus.
To enhance political cooperation, the two sides agreed to continue the mechanism of exchanging delegations at all levels, especially at high levels, to enhance trust, coordinate actions, promote cooperation development, especially in the fields of economics, trade and investment, creating qualitative changes for bilateral cooperation.
The two sides also focused on discussing measures to increase bilateral turnover, balance trade, and increase investment between the two countries in the coming time. The two sides agreed to enhance the effectiveness of the Intergovernmental Committee, determined to effectively implement the plans set out in the Economic Cooperation Program for the period 2013-2015; take active measures to support import-export activities between the two countries; and promote negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Belarus-Kazakhstan-Russia to conclude soon.
The two sides also agreed to continue expanding cooperation in other fields such as science and technology, education and training, culture, sports, tourism, etc.
Prime Minister Myiasnikovich emphasized that Vietnam is a traditional and reliable partner of Belarus in Southeast Asia. Belarus always strives to promote cooperation between the two countries in all fields, especially in the fields of economics, trade, investment...
In the fields of trade and investment, Prime Minister Myiasnikovich proposed that the two sides should propose favorable mechanisms for businesses of both sides to promote trade and investment between the two countries; affirmed that the Belarus 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 belief that the traditional friendship as well as the great potential and advantages for cooperation between the two countries will be the basis and foundation for the Vietnam-Belarus relationship to continue to develop more deeply and effectively in the future./.
According to (TTXVN) - LT
