Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 27 June (BelTA) – Belarus and Vietnam are taking their friendly relations to a new level, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said during the wider format talks with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang in Minsk on 27 June, BelTA has learned.

“The friendly relations between the people of Belarus and Vietnam established back in the times of the Soviet Union have never stopped growing. They have been rising in a comprehensive and consistent manner to a new level. We remember the proverbial expression of those times about the relations with Vietnam ‘the distance is great, but our hearts are close’. This expression still perfectly describes the Belarusian-Vietnamese relations,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

Alexander Lukashenko noted that Belarus is following with interest Vietnam’s social and economic progress. “We are happy about your achievements, especially those of the past decades,” the head of state said.

“Amid the economic growth, the living standards and infrastructure continue to improve. The manufacturing and investment potential of your country is growing. All his creates preconditions for the implementation of joint initiatives in foreign policy and economy,” Alexander Lukashenko emphasized.

The president noted that both Belarus and Vietnam are interested in bolstering trade in different commodity groups, stepping up the industrial cooperation and participation in the implementation of infrastructure projects. “We have successful experience and good prospects for cooperation in military and technical affairs. We have discussed this in detail during our talks,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

The joint work of business associations of the two countries and the national chambers of commerce and industry should become a key element in the effort to strengthen the business ties. “In this context, the business forum and the national exhibition of Vietnam in Belarus can become important elements for establishing new business ties aimed at long-term joint work,” the Belarusian leader pointed out.

He added that the visit of President Tran Dai Quang to Belarus will mark the beginning of the cooperation between Belarus’ Brest Oblast and Vietnam’s Lao Cai Province. “Our experience of working with other countries shows that interregional ties are an effective tool for the development of humanitarian, cultural, trade and economic relations,” Alexander Lukashenko stressed.

The president noted that cooperation in education, science, sports, and culture can bring the people of Belarus and Vietnam even closer together.