Prime Minister holds talks with Belarusian counterpart

At the talks, Prime Minister Pham welcomed Golovchenko to Viet Nam, expressing his belief that his visit – the first by a Belarusian Government leader in 12 years – to Viet Nam would create new impetus for the development of the relations in all areas.

Pham afffirmed the Government and people of Viet Nam always treasure the traditional friendly relationship with Belarus, which has been nurtured by generations of the two countries. The bilateral ties take root dating back to the Soviet era when President Ho Chi Minh visited Belarus in 1957 and 1961.

Prime Minister Golovchenko expressed his pleasure to visit Viet Nam for the first time, highly valuing Viet Nam's recent socio-economic achievements, and affirming that Belarus attaches importance to the fine tradition of cooperation with Viet Nam - a priority of his country in Southeast Asia.

The two Prime Ministers briefed about recent situation in each country, discussing ways to deepen bilateral cooperation, and exchanging views on regional and international issues of shared concern.

The pair underscored 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 cooperation mechanisms .

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

Prime Minister Pham affirmed Viet Nam stands ready to help Belarus strengthen relations with ASEAN, calling on Belarus to back Viet Nam and ASEAN's position on the East Sea issue.

The two sides spoke highly of the progress in trade, investment and investment partnership between the two countries, including the implementation of the free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the Eurasia Economic Union, in which Belarus is a member country.

Pham welcomed the outcomes of the Viet Nam-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 know the fruitful performance of the US$15 million MAZ automobile mannufacturing and assembly plant located in the northern province of Hung Yen.

The two leaders agreed to double 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 potential fronts such as information technology, digital transformation, education and training, scientific research, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

The two sides spoke highly the signing of a cooperation deal between Ha Noi and Minsk during Golovchenko's Viet Nam visit, and the signing of an inter-governmental agreement on educational cooperation last June, which would help boost the exchange of lecturers, students and experts in the fields the two countries have demand for.

The two Prime Ministers shared the belief that the recent signing of the agreement on visa exemption for ordinary passport holders, the cultural cooperation program for the 2023-2025 period last May would contribute to strengthening connections in tourism, culture between the two countries.

After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of bilateral agreements on transfer of sentenced persons, visa exemption for ordinary passport holders, cooperation and information sharing in nuclear safety and radiation protection, and cooperation in official dissemination of Viet Nam's national standards in Belarus.

The same day, Prime Minister Golovchenko paid courtesy calls on Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vo Van Thuong./.