Q: General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam To Lam and his spouse, along with a high-level Vietnamese delegation, are about to pay a state visit to the Republic of Belarus. What is the significance and importance of this visit to the bilateral relationship between Viet Nam and Belarus?
A: The upcoming visit of General Secretary To Lam is a particularly meaningful event for both Belarus and Viet Nam. It reflects the political will and vision of the leadership of the two countries—those who inherit experiences from the past, understand the current reality, and look toward the future. Both sides see the need to enhance coordination to effectively realise the cooperation potential between the two nations.
We highly value this visit and the agreements that will be reached during the event, with the prospect of elevating Belarus–Viet Nam relations to new heights, affirming the direction of mutually beneficial cooperation across various fields.
I believe that Party chief To Lam’s visit to Belarus will contribute to promoting a closer, more stable, and long-lasting Belarus–Viet Nam relationship, founded on friendship, trust, equality, and mutual respect.
Q: Over the past 30 years, Viet Nam and Belarus have continuously strengthened their traditional friendship and promoted cooperation in many areas. How do you assess the major achievements in bilateral relations during this time?
A: Since establishing diplomatic relations over 30 years ago, we have built a solid foundation. Viet Nam has always been and continues to be a priority partner of Belarus in Southeast Asia.
General Secretaries of the Communist Party of Viet Nam have paid two official visits to Belarus. Additionally, there have been regular exchanges between leaders of executive and legislative bodies. More than 100 bilateral documents have been signed between states, governments, ministries, sectors, and localities. Dozens of large-scale economic, trade, and investment projects have been implemented. The scope of cooperation is wide and diverse—from defence and security to culture, education, sports, and tourism.
Viet Nam has always been and continues to be a priority partner of Belarus in Southeast Asia.
Ambassador Uladzimir Uladzimiravich Baravikou
In just the past three years, there have been more than 20 visits by leaders and officials from security agencies, and dozens of bilateral documents have been signed.
The two sides regularly exchange information and technology. These interactions contribute significantly to ensuring public safety in cities of both countries and strengthening national defence capabilities.
Close ties in the education sector have also been established. Many Vietnamese people still remember their student years at Belarusian universities. Belarus remains open to accepting Vietnamese students in high-demand fields, including the semiconductor industry.
Belarus continues to implement its health care programme for foreign children at the Zubrenok National Centre, and we sincerely hope Vietnamese children can participate in this meaningful initiative this year or next.
An important project in this area is the exchange programme for children of law enforcement officers from both countries who were killed or injured in the line of duty, enabling them to visit and interact in Belarus and Viet Nam. We hope this humanitarian initiative will continue to be maintained and developed.
Q: Economic and trade cooperation between Viet Nam and Belarus has seen many positive developments, especially since the Free Trade Agreement between Viet Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) came into effect in October 2016. In your opinion, which areas can the two sides further enhance cooperation in the near future?
A: Trade, economic, and investment cooperation are top priorities in our bilateral relationship. Belarus is committed to promoting a balanced and mutually beneficial trade partnership with Viet Nam. Viet Nam is our strategic partner and also a "gateway" for Belarusian exports to the Southeast Asian region. Belarus is ready to actively contribute to ensuring food security in Viet Nam. We hope to begin exporting beef to the Vietnamese market in the near future.
Industrial cooperation is emerging as a new and promising field. A prime example is the joint automobile assembly project in Hung Yen Province, which demonstrates the effectiveness of bilateral coordination. Many other promising projects are also being actively developed. Belarus is ready to propose several specific areas of cooperation to Viet Nam. Belarusian dump trucks BelAZ, MAZ trucks, and tractor-trailers with high performance are gaining popularity in the Vietnamese market.
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Belarusian Ambassador to Viet Nam Uladzimir Uladzimiravich Baravikou |
Viet Nam has also expressed strong interest in Belarusian technological know-how in high-tech, digital transformation, industry, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food processing, and many other sectors. Belarus is willing to cooperate closely in transferring advanced technologies to help enhance Viet Nam’s technological security.
On the other hand, Viet Nam’s exports of rice, seeds, coffee, fruits, and seafood to Belarus are growing rapidly. In particular, microchips and electronic devices branded "Made in Vietnam" have recently become popular in the Belarusian market.
Potential areas of cooperation between the two countries include the development and application of information and communication technology (ICT), digitisation of life sectors, artificial intelligence, energy, and space exploration.
Belarusian and Vietnamese businesses regularly participate in international exhibitions held in each country. Notably, from April 2 to 5, 2025, Belarus again participated in the Viet Nam EXPO 2025 with its largest-ever national pavilion. As part of the event, the Belarus–Viet Nam Business Forum was held successfully, attracting over 70 companies from both countries.
In 2023, bilateral trade reached a record high (over 65 million USD) in the history of Belarus–Viet Nam relations, thanks to the Viet Nam–EAEU Free Trade Agreement. On May 29, 2025, we will mark the 10th anniversary of the agreement’s signing.
As the 2025 Chair of the EAEU, Belarus is ready to facilitate the effective implementation of the agreement, including expanding the presence of Vietnamese goods in EAEU member countries.
Belarus and Viet Nam regularly conduct “synchronised oversight” of key cooperation areas, most recently during the Belarus–Viet Nam Intergovernmental Committee meeting on economic, trade, scientific, and technical cooperation held in Hanoi on April 1, 2025.
The two sides must seriously implement the agreements reached and strictly follow the planned agenda, fully leveraging all opportunities to remove barriers and obstacles, thereby boosting bilateral trade, attracting investment, exchanging modern technology, creating joint production facilities and new jobs, and accelerating promising business projects.
Q: What are your expectations for the future of Viet Nam–Belarus relations in this new phase? On the occasion of General Secretary To Lam's visit to Belarus, do you have any message for the people of Viet Nam?
A: Our two countries deeply understand each other’s interests and aspirations, and share a common desire to build long-term cooperation, maintain the positive results achieved, and use them as a basis to open up new opportunities and prospects for our bilateral relationship. I am confident that with joint efforts, the two sides will overcome any obstacles and raise Viet Nam–Belarus relations to a new level.
On the eve of General Secretary To Lam’s visit, and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and national reunification, the 71st anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, and the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, I send my best wishes to the Vietnamese people—the same I wish for my homeland Belarus: Peace and all the best!
Thank you very much!
