Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 22 June (BelTA) - The successful implementation of joint pilot projects will give an impetus to the development of relations between Belarus and Vietnam, Belarus’ Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko said at the 14th session of the Belarusian-Vietnamese intergovernmental commission on cooperation in trade, and economy and science in Minsk on 22 June, BelTA has learned.

“Today Belarus and Vietnam are experiencing a fundamentally new phase of trade and economic relations following the signing of the free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Vietnam, and with regard to the relations with Belarus, the protocol on industrial assembly of motor vehicles in Vietnam. The agreement and the protocol open up new opportunities that can contribute to trade growth. The Vietnamese partners and we believe that the boost to the relations should come through successful joint pilot projects that will lead to the result eventually. It is necessary to examine the legislation, business capacities, etc.,” Vladimir Semashko noted.

Vietnam is building a MAZ-Asia plant. The first phase is scheduled to go online in September. “The Vietnamese government made a final decision to give the joint venture assembling MAZ vehicles an adaptation period of 18 months to get adjusted to the new legislation,” Vladimir Semashko said.

He also informed that the plans are in place to sign an agreement to set up a joint venture in Vietnam to manufacture dairy products from Belarusian raw materials.

Vietnam's Industry and Trade Minister Tran Tuan Anh noted that the two countries enjoy long-term friendship. “The prevailing political and diplomatic relations between the government agencies of our countries offer opportunities for further expansion of cooperation in many sectors,” he added.