The talks between Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko in Minsk on May 12, 2025. (Photo: VNA)
The signing took place shortly after their talks in Minsk on May 12 as part of the Vietnamese leader’s two-day state visit to Belarus.
During the talks, Lukashenko emphasised the long-standing friendship between Belarus and Vietnam, forged through decades of cooperation during national liberation struggles and mutual development, that should be cherished, preserved and strengthened for future generations.
He spoke highly of the sound socio-economic development achievements that Vietnam has recorded in recent times, and affirmed that Vietnam is a big friend and an important partner for Belarus in Southeast Asia.
Lam for his part congratulated Lukashenko on his re-election in January 2025 and expressed confidence that Belarus would continue to achieve socio-economic progress and strengthen its international position.
He reaffirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to its traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Belarus - a relationship founded by President Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam and generations of Belarusian leaders, and forged through Vietnam’s historical struggle for national liberation and unification, as well as its ongoing cause of national construction and development.
Belarus is Vietnam’s key partner in the region, said Lam, expressing a strong desire for the bilateral relationship to continue thriving for the mutual benefit of both countries and peoples.
Exchanging views on national developments, both host and guest expressed satisfaction with results of Vietnam – Belarus cooperation recorded in key areas such as politics, diplomacy, defence, science and technology, education, and cultural exchanges.
They agreed on strategic directions to deepen and enhance their comprehensive cooperation, by maintaining high-level contacts and maximising the efficiency of existing cooperation mechanisms.
Party General Secretary To Lam (L) and President Alexander Lukashenko exchange the signed joint statement on the establishment of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Belarus in Minsk on May 12
In economic and trade relations, they agreed to better leverage opportunities from the Vietnam–EAEU (the Eurasian Economic Union) Free Trade Agreement, of which Belarus as a member state, and to facilitate market access for key products including agricultural goods, seafood, and fertilisers, thereby increasing import-export value.
They also committed to expanding cooperation into information technology, digital transformation, basic science education, culture, sports, transportation, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. They held that the recent visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders, effective January 30, 2025, and upcoming cultural exchange programmes will help further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Lam on this occasion requested that Belarus provide continued support for Vietnamese expatriates to live, work and study in their host country, making a practical contribution to the local society and bilateral relations.
On multilateral issues, the two leaders discussed regional and global developments, reaffirming their commitment to close coordination at international forums, particularly at the United Nations.
Lam offered Vietnam’s role as a bridge for Belarus to enhance cooperation with ASEAN, and urged Belarus’s support for Vietnam and ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea), advocating peaceful resolution of disputes based on the United Nations Charter and international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
He extended a formal invitation to Lukashenko to visit Vietnam, and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.
After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing and exchange of cooperation documents in the fields of expert training; digital transformation; science-technology and innovation; culture; judiciary; pharmaceuticals; radio broadcasting, and people-to-people exchanges.
