President Truong Tan Sang and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko held talks in Hanoi on December 9, discussing ways to further lift economic and trade ties to a new height.

President Truong Tan Sang (L) and Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko (R).

It is the first foreign trip by President Lukashenko since his re-election.

Expressing his appreciation for Vietnam’s role in the region and the world, the Belarusian President affirmed that Belarus considers Vietnam a close friend, a strategic partner and one of the priorities in Asia in its external relations.

President Sang expressed his belief that under the leadership of the President, the Belarusian people will reap more successes in the national construction and development.

The two Presidents pledged their determination to foster the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two peoples.

They agreed to continue facilitating the exchange of all-level visits to strengthen political trust, boosting links between the two legislative bodies and in the economic, trade and investment areas, while working closely together at international forums such as the United Nations (UN) and the Non-Aligned Movement for each country’s interest and a world of peace, stability and prosperity.

Both sides promised to improve the efficiency of the Inter-governmental Committee mechanism, back import-export activities and extend collaboration in industry and farming.

The Vietnamese President proposed intensifying industrial cooperation, particularly in Belarus’s strong industries such as chemicals, engineering, automobile assembly.

He also called for joint-ventures to process coffee, milk and farm produce, and Belarus’s help in training agricultural experts.

Stressing the significance of the free trade agreement signed between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union in May, they vowed to effectively realise the deal by raising corporate awareness of its terms.

The two Presidents consented to expanding bilateral ties across science-technology, national defence, education, health care, culture, sport, tourism and labour.

In such spirit, the Belarusian President spoke highly of Vietnam’s unilateral visa exemption for Belarusian citizens from July 1, 2015 and agreed to simplify visa procedures for Vietnamese nationals.

He informed his host that Belarus will supply lorries and trucks to the Vietnamese market this year, adding that his country is ready to help Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City build subways while seeking partnerships in oil and gas, medicines, information technology and military technique.

The Vietnamese President asked Belarus to continue providing support for the Vietnamese community in the country.

Turning to regional and global issues of shared concern, the leaders underscored the UN’s central role in ensuring global peace, security and sustainable growth and expressed their support of efforts to improve the UN’s operation efficiency.

The guest confirmed his backing of Vietnam’s stance on the settlement of territorial disputes, including the East Sea dispute by peaceful means without the use of force or threat to use force in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and working towards an early formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

Host and guest expressed their belief that the visit would create a new impetus to strengthen Vietnam-Belarus ties in all aspects to meet aspirations of the two peoples, for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

President Lukashenso invited President Sang to visit Belarus in the foreseeable future. The host accepted the invitation with pleasure and the timing of the visit will be arranged via diplomatic channel.

Following the talks, host and guest signed a joint statement on strengthening and developing comprehensive ties between Vietnam and Belarus.

They later witnessed the signing of several agreements on economic, scientific, educational and cultural cooperation for 2016-2018, and for 2016-2020.

NA Chairman discusses ties with Belarusian President

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko agreed to push efforts toward the goal of 500 million USD in two-way trade during their meeting in Hanoi on December 9.

They stressed the need to upgrade the Inter-governmental Committee to support economic, trade, investment, education and tourism affiliations, and work closely together to extend links.

Belarus wants Vietnam’s help in increasing its ties with Southeast Asian countries, President Lukashenko said, adding that the country is committed to helping Vietnam expand partnership with Eastern Europe nations.

He believed that on the back of successful renovation, Vietnam will further grow and successfully hold the 12th National Party Congress.

The President called for close mutual support in building a legal foundation for bilateral cooperation and in overseeing the implementation of signed agreements.

The top Vietnamese legislator hailed the Belarusian legislature for its active involvement in the 132 nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union held in Hanoi in March.

The host affirmed that the Vietnamese NA would do its best to foster solidarity and friendship between the two countries and legislatures in particular.

Party leader greets visiting Belarusian President

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Hanoi on December 9, welcoming the President’s selection of Vietnam as one of the first destinations to visit following his re-election.

The Party chief said the visit illustrates that the Belarusian President attaches importance to the two countries’ relations, and thanked Belarus for the country’s whole-hearted support to Vietnam throughout history.

He asked the President and Belarus government to devise concrete measures to execute the countries’ high-ranking agreements, especially those in economics and trade, and provide favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community there.

He also highly valued Belarus’s achievements in its foreign policy and efforts towards social stability, economic development, and regional and international integration.

Vietnam always treasures its ties with traditional friends, including Belarus, the Party leader said, stressing the resolve to bolster the sound relationship between the two countries.

For his part, President Alexander Lukashenko briefed the host about the outcomes of the talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang.

He emphasised that Belarus regards Vietnam as one of the prioritised Asian-Pacific partners, voicing his delight at the progress in bilateral political connections.

The leader vowed to urge Belarusian relevant agencies to ratify the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union, of which his country is a member, as soon as possible.

Belarus will also make all-out efforts to forward the time-honoured amity and cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation, Lukashenko said.

He took this occasion to wish Vietnam a successful 12th National Party Congress and further development accomplishments.

VN-Belarus to promote cooperation

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and President Alexander Lukashenko reached consensus on the list of top priorities for cooperation between Vietnam and Belarus during their meeting in Hanoi on December 9.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (R) and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Accordingly, the list spans politics-diplomacy, economics-trade-investment-tourism, education-training, military technology, and science-technology and research.

The leaders highly appreciated the signing of economic contracts worth 350 million USD by the two countries’ businesses during President Lukashenko’s ongoing visit to Vietnam.

Lauding the smooth implementation of cooperation projects in manufacturing and assembling trucks and buses, they said the projects’ outcomes will help expand the affiliation in other realms.

Host and guest agreed to push for the early ratification and implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union, in which Belarus is a member.

They consented to elevate the Vietnam-Belarus Intergovernmental Committee to the ministerial level and convene the first meeting of the new-level committee in Minsk early next year in order to identify specific cooperation programmes and projects.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung pledged to back members of the Eurasian Economic Union, including Belarus, to expand their relations with ASEAN countries and access the market.

The Belarusian President shared his views on the stance of Vietnam and other ASEAN member countries on ensuring and preserving peace, stability, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the East Sea, which is an important condition for cooperation and development in the region and the world as a whole.

PM Dung described President Lukashenko’s visit to Vietnam as a new landmark contributing to lifting the bilateral relations to a new height.

Vietnam is keen to join hands with Belarus to deepen the relationship in a pragmatic and effective fashion, for the interests and development of the two countries and peoples, he noted.

On this occasion, the President invited Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to pay an official visit to Belarus.

Belarusian President wraps up Vietnam visit

Belarusian President pays floral tribute to war heroes.

Belarusian President Alexander Grigorievich Lukashenko left Hanoi on December 9, concluding his State visit to Vietnam at the invitation of President Truong Tan Sang.

During the visit, Lukashenko held talks with President Sang, met National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and paid a courtesy call to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

During their talks, both sides expressed their satisfaction at the positive development of Vietnam-Belarus ties, and pledged their determination to strengthen the traditional friendship and all-around cooperation between the two countries.

President Sang and the Belarusian leader also signed a joint statement on strengthening and developing Vietnam-Belarus comprehensive links.

Besides economics, trade and investment cooperation, both sides were committed to fostering links across science-technology, national defence, education, health care, culture, sports and tourism.

They noted the significance of the signing of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union in May, and vowed to effectively realise the deal and further improve the role of the Inter-Governmental Committee in fostering bilateral ties.

Both countries will facilitate business operations in each territory to increase trade.

They will work closely together at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and other international forums towards the goal of building a sound and fair global political and economic order.

Both host and guest stressed the need to respect each country’s sovereignty, fairness and territorial integrity, the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and the peaceful settlement of disputes without the use of force or threat to use force, as well as the principle of win-win cooperation, for the sake of peace, stability and development.

Vietnam and Belarus expressed their backing of the settlement of territorial disputes, including the East Sea dispute, by peaceful means in line with international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and the early formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

The leaders also agreed to work towards building a strategic partnership between Vietnam and Belarus, and signed a number of agreements.

On the occasion, Lukashenko paid a floral tribute to war heroes and late President Ho Chi Minh.

VNA