President hosts Belarusian Deputy PM

Hanoi (VNA) – President Tran Dai Quang expressed his delight at the development of the Vietnam-Belarus friendship and cooperation in all fields while hosting Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko in Hanoi on March 28.

The Vietnamese State leader recalled his memories of his visit to Belarus in June last year, while extending an invitation to visit Vietnam to President Alexander Lukashenko.

He expressed his pleasure at the effective implementation of agreements reached during his visit, especially the Vietnam-Eurasia Economic Union free trade agreement that became effective in late 2016, eliminating 90 percent of tariffs and opening up new prospects in economic and trade ties between the two countries.

He lauded the Belarusian Deputy PM’s bilateral working sessions with Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities, suggesting that the two sides should maintain exchange of delegations at all levels, strengthen links in value chain as well as cooperation in production and exports, thus boosting two-way trade, cultural collaboration as well as people-to-people exchange.

President Quang stressed that Vietnam hopes to receive more investments from Belarus, especially in automobile and automobile spare part production, chemicals, and industrial equipment.

Vietnam will back Belarusian firms to engage in urban railway construction projects and create conditions for Belarus’s industrial and engineering products to access Vietnam, he pledges, showing his hope that the two sides will foster collaboration in defence, security, and criminal prevention and fight.

He proposed that the two sides work closely in dealing with problems arising during cooperation in a flexible manner.

The Vietnamese leader said he hopes the two countries will continue supporting each other at regional and international forums.

For his part, Semashko said that his visit aims to evaluate outcomes of the bilateral affiliation since the Vietnam- Eurasia Economic Union free trade agreement took effect. He noted that he had working sessions with leaders of Hanoi, ministries, sectors and localities to discuss ways to promote cooperation projects in transportation, food and pharmaceuticals.

The Vietnamese and Belarusian economies can supplement each other, which will contribute to the growth of both countries, he added.

He agreed with President Quang’s proposal on the settlement of arising matters during cooperation, especially the implementation of the Vietnam-Eurasia Economic Union free trade agreement. - VNA