Belarus wishes to build strategic partnership with Vietnam: Ambassador
Moscow (VNA) – Belarus views Vietnam as a priority
partner in Asia and wishes to develop a strategic partnership with the Southeast
Asian country, according to the Belarusian Ambassador to Vietnam Vladimir
Borovikov.
In an interview with Belarus’ largest news agency BelTA on June
22, the diplomat highlighted the 30-year history of the two countries’
diplomatic relations, saying he expects the Belarusian prime minister will be able
to pay an official visit to Vietnam. This will mark the start of a new chapter
in the bilateral relations, he told BelTA.
More than three decades since the two nations established diplomatic
ties, Vietnam has achieved impressive successes in socio-economic development, Borovikov
said.
The Vietnam-Belarus ties are now driven by positive factors,
he said, adding that the two-way trade has exceeded 200 million USD. Haul trucks
BELAZ, trucks MAZ and tractors imported from Belarus have been popular in
Vietnam for decades, while Belarusians have been familiar with Vietnam’s key
products such as silk, seafood, tea and coffee, he continued.
He further noted that Vietnamese electronic circuits and
devices have expanded availability in Belarus, and Vietnamese fruits have great
potential in the European country.
The diplomat affirmed that he will focus his efforts on develop
economic ties with Vietnam, mostly in industrial cooperation, establishing
joint ventures and factories for assembly and improving goods distribution
networks.
Highly appreciating the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)-Vietnam Free
Trade Agreement for giving a further push to the bilateral economic and trade
relations, he said the removal of trade barriers has enabled various high-quality
dairy products from Belarus to enter Vietnam.
Given that the Vietnam-Belarus ties in education are growing,
the Embassy of Belarus in Vietnam will do every possible to help Belarusian
universities to establish partnership with those from Vietnam, he noted. Most
recently, the Belarus State Academy of Music and the Vietnam National Academy
of Music have inked an agreement to boost cooperation.
Additionally, Vietnam and Belarus are considering the
possibility of launching direct flights between the two countries, which will
set the scene for the development of trade and tourism, he unveiled./.