Vietnam always attaches importance to further consolidating and developing relations with traditional friends, including Belarus.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the affirmation during talks with his Belarusian counterpart Mikhail Myiasnikovich in the capital city of Minsk on May 16.

During the talks, the two PMs informed each other of the political, social and economic situations and foreign policy of their respective countries as well as swapping views on bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual concern.  

Dung congratulated the Belarusian people on their achievements recorded in boosting socio-economic development, maintaining political stability and implementing a multilateral foreign policy.

The Belarusian PM spoke highly of Vietnamese people’s records in the past years, saying that they have contributed to elevating Vietnam ’s image and position in the regional and international arena.

He further stressed that developing friendship and mutually beneficiary cooperation with Vietnam is one of the pillars of his country’s foreign policy.

The two sides expressed pleasure at the fine development of their bilateral ties over the past time and agreed to continue maintaining all-level delegation exchanges to strengthen political trust, paving the way to promote bilateral ties with a focus on economic, trade and investment cooperation.

The two PMs concentrated on measures to lift two-way trade and investment from both sides in the time to come, while underscoring the significance as a breakthrough of the early conclusion of negotiations and signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

They also discussed intensifying cooperation in the industry sector, including the establishment of a joint venture producing industrial equipment, credit provision and export supporting measures.

The two sides agreed to improve the operating efficiency of the inter-governmental committee on economics-trade and science-technology cooperation, showing determination to fulfil tasks set in the Economic Cooperation Programme for the 2013-2015 period.

The two leaders highly valued the fruitful results attained over the past years in the areas of science-technology, education-training, military technology, culture, sports and tourism.

The Belarusian side affirmed its willingness to provide training to Vietnamese experts in technology and offer more scholarships to Vietnamese students.

The two sides agreed to hold Days of Vietnamese Culture in Belarus and Days of Belarusian Culture in Vietnam.

Dung and his counterpart expressed delight at the two countries’ close coordination and mutual support at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and other regional and international forums for the benefits of the two peoples as well as for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the world.

The two sides voiced support for maintaining peace, stability, maritime safety and security in the East Sea and resolving territorial disputes by peaceful means in line with international law.

PM Dung thanked Belarusian leaders and authorities for creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese expatriates living, studying and doing business in the host country. He expressed his belief that the Vietnamese community will continue to receive a helping hand from the host country to live in harmony with local residents and make positive contributions to the development of the bilateral friendship and cooperation.

After the talks, Dung and Mikhail Myiasnikovich signed a joint statement on the results of the former’s visit to Belarus and witnessed the signing ceremony of an agreement on cooperation in the information and communication sector, a memorandum of understanding on power energy cooperation and a plan to implement a cooperation deal in standards, measurements and quality for the 2013-2015 period.

The two leaders then met with the press to inform them of the outcomes of their talks.

VNA