Lukashenko: Belarus is determined to expand economic ties with Vietnam

Belarus-Vietnam cooperation has always benefited and will benefit both countries, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Van Ngu, BelTA has learned.

“I am glad to see you in a good mood. It means that not everything is so bad in our world. There are places where it is quiet and peaceful. I mean our friendly nation of Vietnam. The people of Vietnam deserved peace, calm and progress in their country,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

According to the president, Vietnam went through a lot in the past century. “When it comes to Vietnam, I always recall the struggle of the Vietnamese people against those who wanted to destroy Vietnam and establish a foothold in this blissful place, a strategic country of Southeast Asia. We were together back then. We fought together, we helped Vietnam. And this history of joint fight is the foundation of bilateral relations. I want to assure you that we will always cherish these times of joint struggle that brought peace to the Vietnamese people, which later paved the way to today’s prosperity of your country,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“We will always do our best to help Vietnam to remain on the growth track. It is not only because we love the Vietnamese people, but also because it makes economic sense. This pragmatism is characteristic of the Belarusian people and the Vietnamese. This cooperation has always brought and will bring benefits. We are determined to promote economic cooperation. This is the pillar of our relations,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Diplomatic relations between Belarus and Vietnam were established on 24 January 1992. This year the countries mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

Belarus and Vietnam maintain a political dialogue and exchange visits at the highest and high levels. The two countries successfully interact in international organizations.

In 2021, the trade between Belarus and Vietnam exceeded $200 million. Belarus exported potash fertilizers, livestock products, instrumentation products, medicines and cosmetics and purchased Vietnam’s rubber, nuts, fish fillets, integrated circuits, propylene polymers, and canned foods.

Vietnam has a factory assembling MAZ trucks. Negotiations are underway on the deliveries of special-purpose tractors to work in rice fields and BelAZ mining equipment to Vietnam. There are bilateral agreements on the construction of an enterprise to produce milk and dairy products.