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Belarus, Vietnam mull over MAZ buses assembly project

MINSK, 21 February (BelTA) – A Belarusian-Vietnamese project to assemble low-floor MAZ buses in Hanoi was on the agenda of a meeting between Chairman of the House of Representatives Vladimir Andreichenko and Vietnamese Ambassador to Belarus Pham Hai, BelTA has learned.

Several low-floor MAZ buses have been trialled in Hanoi and received positive reviews from drivers and passengers. The parties intend to develop a program of further action to start assembling these buses in Hanoi, the speaker said. Possible deliveries of buses to Vietnam and other countries are also on agenda. “This will be a very important step to bolster bilateral trade and economic ties,” Vladimir Andreichenko.

During the meeting, the parties reviewed the prospects for the MAZ-Asia plant. The project is approximately 85% complete. Vladimir Andreichenko called on both sides to make sure the plant goes online in the second half of 2019.

Interaction in agriculture was also on the agenda of the meeting. Vladimir Andreichenko noted that the incorporation documents of a joint milk processing venture to be set up in Vietnam have been signed. The speaker suggested monitoring this project and facilitating its implementation. “We are interested in increasing the import of products from Vietnam, setting up enterprises, and raising more investments,” said Vladimir Andreichenko. Chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan is expected to visit Belarus in 2019. The above-mentioned issues will be discussed during the visit. The parties are also set to sign a roadmap of inter-parliamentary cooperation and hold a business forum.

Vladimir Andreichenko named the development of interregional cooperation as another important issue on the bilateral agenda. According to the speaker, Belarus and Vietnam have a lot of work ahead. The two states are considering a number of agreements. MPs, together with the embassy, will do their best to contribute to the prompt signing of the agreements.

The ambassador expressed interest in stepping up trade and economic cooperation. The parties are not satisfied with the mutual trade at $120-130 million. Belarus and Vietnam are long-standing friends. The ambassador believes that friendship is a solid foundation for promoting political dialogue and developing cooperation in other areas. “As for trade and economic cooperation, we must do our best to strengthen it,” Ambassador Pham Hai said.

The parties also discussed issues of humanitarian and cultural cooperation. The ambassador said that Belarus is hosting the 2nd European Games in 2019 and expressed confidence that they will be organized in the best possible way.

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