Brian Jeffrey
On May 12, after a reception ceremony, President Lukashenko engaged in discussions with General Secretary To Lam.
This visit is significant as it marks the first time in 11 years that a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam has visited Belarus.
The two nations maintain a long-standing relationship built on their共同 fight for independence and ongoing growth. This lasting camaraderie is seen as a treasured legacy nurtured by leaders over many years.
President Lukashenko commended Vietnam’s impressive socio-economic progress and emphasized that Vietnam stands as a key ally and partner for Belarus in Southeast Asia.
General Secretary To Lam reiterated Vietnam’s appreciation for its longstanding friendship and diversified collaboration with Belarus, a bond established by President Ho Chi Minh and past Belarusian leaders, which has been consistently fortified. He mentioned that Vietnam regards Belarus as an essential regional partner and seeks to deepen this alliance.
During their discussions, both leaders expressed their happiness with the fruitful cooperation across numerous domains, including political and diplomatic ties, defense and security, science and technology, education and training, culture, and community exchanges.
They highlighted the significance of maintaining high-level interactions and optimizing the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation frameworks tailored to the current situations of both countries.
In terms of economic relations, trade, and investment, the leaders acknowledged the advancements achieved and decided to take full advantage of the Vietnam – Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement, which includes Belarus as a participant.
General Secretary To Lam suggested that both nations explore methods to ease market access for essential commodities such as agricultural products, seafood, and fertilizers to enhance bilateral trade.
Both parties agreed on vital actions to broaden collaboration in emerging sectors like information technology, digital advancement, education and training (especially in basic sciences), cultural exchanges, sports training, scientific research, transportation, tourism, and community relations.
The two countries have finalized a visa exemption deal for ordinary passport holders, effective January 30, 2025. This arrangement, along with collaborative cultural initiatives, is anticipated to further bolster cooperation and exchanges between them.
General Secretary To Lam expressed gratitude to Belarus for its support of the Vietnamese community residing, working, and studying in the country. He urged the president and Belarusian officials to continue fostering an environment that allows the Vietnamese community to positively contribute to Belarus’s progress and the Vietnam-Belarus partnership.
On multilateral cooperation, the leaders shared insights on regional and global matters of shared concern. Vietnam reaffirmed its willingness to act as a conduit to enhance Belarus’s ties with ASEAN and called on Belarus to support Vietnam and ASEAN’s position regarding the East Sea, advocating for peaceful resolutions in line with the UN Charter and international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
After their discussions, the leaders signed a joint declaration establishing the Vietnam-Belarus Strategic Partnership and observed the signing of agreements in defense, scientific collaboration, justice, healthcare, culture, broadcasting, and community exchanges.
During a press conference, President Lukashenko noted that the enhancement of bilateral relations signifies true friendship and a collective ambition for sustainable cooperation. He also mentioned Belarus’s commitment to supplying Vietnam with essential goods, including tractors, automobiles, and agricultural products.
General Secretary To Lam emphasized that his visit aims to usher in a new era of Vietnam-Belarus relations. With a solid foundation of key cooperative successes and robust mutual confidence, both parties endorsed the joint declaration that establishes their strategic partnership.
He expressed optimism that this newly established strategic framework would pave the way for wider cooperation opportunities in the future.
