Vietnam, Belarus establish strategic partnership

THE HANOI TIMES — General Secretary To Lam during his talks with President Aleksandr Lukashenko on May 12 in Minsk signed a joint statement establishing the Vietnam–Belarus Strategic Partnership.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements spanning national defense, science and technology, justice, healthcare, culture, broadcasting, and people-to-people exchanges.

President Alexander Lukashenko praised Vietnam’s recent socio-economic progress, describing the country as a close friend of Belarus and a key partner in Southeast Asia.

General Secretary To Lam affirmed that Vietnam considers Belarus a key partner in the region and expressed a strong commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties for the mutual benefit of both nations. He urged both sides to explore measures to facilitate market access for agricultural products, seafood, and fertilizers, with the goal of boosting two-way trade turnover.

The two leaders agreed on the need to further leverage the potential of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), of which Belarus is a member.

They also reached a consensus on expanding bilateral cooperation into new and promising areas, including information technology, digital transformation, education and training, particularly in the fundamental sciences, arts, sports (including athlete training), scientific research, transport, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

The two leaders reaffirmed that the visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders, which came into effect on January 30, along with the implementation of cultural cooperation programs, will help promote greater collaboration and exchanges. They also engaged in discussions on regional and international issues of mutual concern, agreeing to maintain close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially the United Nations.

General Secretary To Lam also called on President Lukashenko and the Belarusian government to continue supporting the Vietnamese community in Belarus so they can contribute to the country’s development and to the traditional friendship between the two nations.

General Secretary To Lam affirmed that Vietnam is ready to serve as a bridge to help Belarus strengthen ties with ASEAN. He called on Belarus to support the positions of Vietnam and ASEAN on the South China Sea issue, stressing the importance of peaceful dispute resolution based on the UN Charter and international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam and Belarus established diplomatic relations in 1992. Bilateral trade reached US$60 million in 2024 and $20.9 million in the first quarter of this year.

The Vietnamese community in Belarus currently numbers around 500 people, including permanent residents, workers, students, and contract-based laborers. In December 2006, President Lukashenko granted legal and long-term residency to Vietnamese citizens who had studied or worked in Belarus before 1992.