Hanoi (VNA) – The upcoming state visit to Belarus by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam from May 11–12 is expected to serve as a catalyst for further strengthening the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, and harness the strengths of both sides to deliver more tangible results.
This is Lam's first visit to Belarus in his capacity as the Party General Secretary and marks the first trip by a Vietnamese Party chief to the Eastern European nation in 11 years.
Vietnam–Belarus traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation
Vietnam and Belarus have inherited a traditional friendship and strong cooperation built on the historical ties between Vietnam and the former Soviet Union.
On January 24, 1992, Vietnam and Belarus established diplomatic relations. Since then, the bilateral ties have been steadily strengthened through reciprocal visits and increasing exchanges in economy, culture, and trade. Senior Belarusian leaders have repeatedly affirmed that Vietnam is an important partner in Southeast Asia, expressing a desire to enhance cooperation in traditional fields and expand into new potential areas.
Belarus opened its embassy in Vietnam in 1998, while Vietnam inaugurated its embassy in Belarus in October 2003 and appointed its first resident ambassador in March 2005.
Vietnam and Belarus have maintained several cooperation mechanisms, including the Intergovernmental Committee for Economic, Trade, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation; the Joint Intergovernmental Committee for Military-Technical Cooperation; the Joint Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation; and political consultations at the deputy foreign minister level.
The two countries have closely coordinated and supported each other at international forums such as the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. Belarus has endorsed Vietnam’s candidacies for numerous international bodies, including the UN Economic and Social Council (2016–2018), the International Law Commission (2017–2021, 2023–2027), the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2022–2026), and the UN Human Rights Council (2023–2025).
Prospects for economic-trade cooperation
Vietnam and Belarus have complementary advantages. Vietnam is one of Belarus’s traditional trading partners in Southeast Asia, with bilateral trade reaching 60 million USD in 2024.
Vietnam exports a range of products to Belarus, including seafood, natural rubber, wood products, textiles, footwear, rice, cashew nuts, peanuts, pepper, spices, tea, canned vegetables, pharmaceuticals, and computers. In return, Vietnam imports dairy products, fertilisers, machinery, equipment, auto parts, tractors, trucks, and chemicals.
Economic ties between the two countries have been strengthened under the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, which includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. The agreement was signed in May 2015 and came into effect in October 2016.
Regarding investment, Belarus currently has three projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 32.2 million USD. Vietnam has one investment project in Belarus, operated by IP Hapaco in the wholesale and retail sector, with an investment of 810,000 USD since May 2009.
A significant outcome of Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Lyashenko’s visit to Vietnam in September 2019 was the launch of the MAZ ASIA joint venture for truck assembly, with an annual capacity of 3,000 units. Additionally, documents were signed to establish a milk production joint venture in Hung Yen province. These initiatives reflect both countries’ efforts to shift from traditional trade to deeper industrial and production partnerships.
Cooperation in defence and security, particularly military-technical collaboration, has also been advanced, with the Joint Intergovernmental Committee for Military-Technical Cooperation holding regular annual meetings. Most recently, the 21st session was held in Minsk in September 2024.
Cultural and educational ties remain vibrant. The two countries regularly organise Vietnam Culture Days in Belarus and Belarus Culture Days in Vietnam. Belarus has helped train many skilled professionals for Vietnam. Meanwhile, scientific and technological cooperation has yielded concrete results through various joint projects.
Locality-to-locality cooperation continues between Vietnamese and Belarusian provinces and cities. Notable partnerships exist between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Minsk; Quang Ninh with Minsk, Grodno, and Brest; Hai Phong and Vitebsk; Binh Thuan and Vitebsk; Quang Nam and Mogilev; and Lao Cai and Brest.
The Vietnamese community in Belarus, numbering around 500–600 people, including residents, businesspeople, students, and contract workers, generally enjoys favourable conditions for living, studying, and conducting business under local laws.
A new chapter in Vietnam–Belarus relations
The traditional friendship, along with the strong potential and complementary strengths of both countries, continues to create a solid foundation for deepening and expanding the bilateral relations.
According to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, the visit by General Secretary Lam not only reinforces political trust between Vietnam and its traditional friends but also underscores Vietnam’s determination to enhance relations with former Soviet Union states, including Belarus. She also highlighted that the visit would help promote cooperation between the Communist Party of Vietnam and major political parties in Belarus.
The trip also aims to enhance people-to-people exchanges, affirming the Vietnamese people’s consistent good sentiments towards the people of Belarus - one of Vietnam’s traditional friends - and elevate the bilateral ties toward comprehensive cooperation in all fields in the new situation.
During the visit, the Party chief is expected to hold high-level talks with Belarusian leaders to shape the future direction of the relationship and generate new momentum in fields such as economy, trade, investment, basic science, energy, high technology, and artificial intelligence./.
