MINSK, 27 June (BelTA) – Belarus and Vietnam move towards the establishment of strategic partnership. This is envisaged in the joint statement of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang on the all-round and advanced development of partnership between the two countries. The document was signed after the official negotiations at the Palace of Independence, BelTA has learned.
The joint statement reflects similar positions of the two sides on the international and bilateral cooperation issues. The sides reaffirmed the commitment to the consistent development and enhancement of traditionally friendly ties between Belarus and Vietnam. It is remarked that the sides have similar approaches to the key global and regional problems. They expressed readiness to maintain close cooperation in international organizations.
On the whole, the sides expressed satisfaction with the constructive nature and progressive development of the Belarusian-Vietnamese cooperation, active exchange of visits at the top and high level in recent years. All that stabilizes existing interstate ties, helps deepen them in all fields.
The sides have reaffirmed mutual interest in the intensification of the trade and economic cooperation, mentioned its huge potential taking into account the enforcement of the free trade agreement between the EEU states and Vietnam on 5 October 2016.
The parties agreed to develop and deepen cooperation in transport machine building, agriculture, petrochemistry, light industry, information and banking technologies, electronics, mining, processing of sea and farm products, other branches of the economy.
The presidents also welcomed the establishment of the joint venture MAZ Asia for the assembly of Belarusian freight vehicles on the territory of Vietnam and expressed readiness to create favorable conditions for its work.
It was mentioned that the implementation of cooperation projects will help localize the manufacture of Belarusian hi-tech products in Vietnam, including for the joint export of equipment to the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, create new jobs and raise the qualification of Vietnamese workers.
Besides, the parties pointed out broad opportunities and a resolution to take a more active part in state programs, infrastructure, energy and other projects of Belarus and Vietnam, including the projects to build the metro system, tunnels, the National Library, explore oil and other deposits in Vietnam, projects in agribusiness, communications, industrial cooperation and tourism in Belarus.
In the joint statement the presidents also mentioned the Belarusian-Vietnamese military and security cooperation, interaction in science and technology, education, healthcare, culture, sport, and tourism.
Special attention was drawn to the intensification of interregional cooperation.
The sides reaffirmed the commitment of Belarus and Vietnam to international integration. The Vietnamese side confirmed its readiness to support Belarus' resolution to advance multilateral cooperation with Southeast Asian countries. The Belarusian side, in turn, is ready to provide assistance in the development of mutually beneficial cooperation of Vietnam with the EEU and CIS countries.
The sides agreed that the visit of the Vietnamese president has made an important contribution to the strengthening of traditional friendship and is an important step towards the establishment of strategic partnership between Belarus and Vietnam.
Tran Dai Quang invited Alexander Lukashenko to visit Vietnam at any convenient time. The invitation was accepted with gratitude. Concrete terms of the visit will be harmonized.
A number of bilateral documents on the development of cooperation in various fields were signed in the presence of the two leaders. These include a protocol on introducing amendments and addenda to the protocol on the production of motor vehicles on the territory of Vietnam as of 23 March 2016 between the governments of Belarus and Vietnam, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in geology, an agreement on cooperation in physical education, sport and tourism, a provision on a military and industrial cooperation commission.
The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology have signed an agreement on scientific and technical cooperation. The NASB and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences have signed a memorandum of understanding in academic exchange and cooperation.
Brest Oblast and Lao Cai Province have signed an agreement on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation. Vitebsk Oblast and Vietnam's Haiphong have signed a memorandum of cooperation for 2017-2021.
