Brian Jeffrey
After a successful official trip to Russia, General Secretary To Lam and his wife, Ngo Phuong Ly, landed at Minsk Airport in Belarus on the afternoon of May 11. They were there for a state visit.
This visit, running from May 11 to 12, was at the invitation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Upon their arrival, General Secretary To Lam, his wife, and the accompanying Vietnamese delegation were greeted by Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Sivak, Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, Belarusian Ambassador to Vietnam Uladzimir Baravikou, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Belarus Nguyen Van Ngu, among others.
Throughout the airport, the flags of both nations fluttered. A young Belarusian woman offered a bouquet of flowers to General Secretary To Lam and his wife as they stepped off the plane.
Adhering to Belarusian customs, two young women in traditional dress presented bread and salt to the couple.
Right after their arrival, the General Secretary and his team visited the Victory Monument to pay their respects and laid flowers. They also participated in a memorial event, honoring Belarusian veterans and experts who significantly aided Vietnam.
The history between Vietnam and Belarus dates back to the Soviet era, with key moments during President Ho Chi Minh’s visits in 1957 and 1961.
Since they established diplomatic ties on January 24, 1992, both countries have continuously nurtured their friendship and enhanced cooperation, marked by growing political trust.
The two nations work together across numerous fields, including defense, trade, culture, education, technology, citizen exchanges, and regional partnerships. This collaboration is underpinned by around 50 international treaties and agreements.
Nine Vietnamese provinces have formed friendships and cooperative ties with six of Belarus’s seven regional administrative units.
A key achievement in their relations is the recently implemented visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders from both countries, effective January 30, making Belarus one of the few European countries offering visa-free access to Vietnamese citizens.
The visit by General Secretary To Lam is anticipated to inject fresh energy into bilateral relations, enhancing the existing partnership and exploring new opportunities for collaboration.
