During his talks in Hanoi on December 8 with Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, who is paying an official visit to Vietnam from December 6-9, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed a belief that the visit - the first by a Belarusian Government leader in 12 years - will give fresh impetus to the development of relations between the two countries, according to a report from the Government News.

Prime Minister Chinh affirmed that the government and people of Vietnam treasure the traditional friendly relationship with Belarus, which has been nurtured for generations by the two countries. Bilateral ties first took root in the Soviet era, when President Ho Chi Minh visited Belarus in 1957 and 1961.

Prime Minister Golovchenko expressed his pleasure at visiting Vietnam for the first time, and appreciated Vietnam’s recent socio-economic achievements, while affirming that Belarus attaches importance to the fine tradition of cooperation with Vietnam - a priority for his country in Southeast Asia.

The two Prime Ministers briefed each other on the recent situation in their country, discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation, and exchanged views on regional and international issues of shared concern.

They spoke highly of the progress in trade and investment partnerships between the two countries, including the implementation of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasia Economic Union, of which Belarus is a member.

The two leaders agreed to double their efforts to boost trade in goods, including farm produce, aquatic products, seafood, dairy products, fertilizer, and machinery.

Both sides also agreed to expand cooperation in areas of potential such as information technology, digital transformation, education and training, scientific research, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

They highlighted the importance of maintaining contacts at all levels, via all channels, and between the two countries’ ministries, agencies, and localities while promoting the role of the existing cooperative mechanisms.

The two sides agreed to continue close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially in the United Nations.

Prime Minister Chinh affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to help Belarus strengthen relations with ASEAN, and called on it to back Vietnam and ASEAN’s position on the East Sea issue.

He welcomed the outcomes of the Vietnam-Belarus Business Forum held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 7, which brought together representatives of more than 100 enterprises from both countries.

He was pleased to hear of the fruitful performance of the $15 million MAZ automobile manufacturing and assembly plant invested in by Belarus in the northern province of Hung Yen.

The two Prime Ministers spoke highly of the signing of a cooperative deal between Hanoi and Minsk during Prime Minister Golovchenko’s visit, and the signing of an inter-governmental agreement on educational cooperation last June, which will help boost the exchange of lecturers, students, and experts in fields where the two countries have demand.

They shared a belief that the agreement on visa exemptions for ordinary passport holders, to be signed soon, and the cultural cooperation program for the 2023-2025 period signed last May will contribute to strengthening connections in tourism and culture between the two countries.

Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of bilateral agreements on the transfer of sentenced persons, visa exemptions for ordinary passport holders, cooperation and information sharing on nuclear safety and radiation protection, and cooperation in the official dissemination of Vietnam’s national standards in Belarus.