Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 27 June (BelTA) – Belarus views Vietnam as a reliable partner of strategic importance. Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko made the statement as he met with Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang on 27 June, BelTA has learned.

The MP said: “We consider the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to be a reliable and strategically important partner.” In his words, the two countries have been friends even since the Soviet Union times. “A lot of time has passed since then. Many things have changed but the most important thing remains — warm and trustful relations with your country. Belarus is intent on bolstering and advancing these relations by all means possible,” said Vladimir Andreichenko.

In particular, the head of the lower chamber of the Belarusian parliament pointed out the vigorous development of the top-level dialogue. He also mentioned with satisfaction the full-fledged systemic interaction between the Belarusian and Vietnamese parliaments. Vladimir Andreichenko stated that the parliaments had established friendship groups. Visits are regularly exchanged, including at the level of speakers and the level of MPs.

According to Vladimir Andreichenko, a substantial legal base has been created — over 60 agreements, including interstate, intergovernmental, and interagency ones. “In other words, the necessary foundation for making our trade and economic cooperation stronger is available. In 2016 the Belarusian parliament promptly ratified the agreement on free trade between the Eurasian Economic Union and Vietnam. I think all of it allowed increasing mutual trade this year. Belarus-Vietnam trade rose by roughly 30% in January-April 2017,” noted Vladimir Andreichenko. He said he believes the two countries will have to work hard in order to increase this figure even more.

In turn, Tran Dai Quang admitted he was glad to visit Belarus in the year when the 25^th anniversary of Belarusian-Vietnamese relations is celebrated. He remarked that contacts only got more and more advanced over the years. On behalf of the speaker of the Vietnamese parliament Tran Dai Quang invited Vladimir Andreichenko to visit Vietnam.