OREANDA-NEWS.  June 13, 2012. Belarus and Vietnam are eager to promote cooperation in all areas, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to Belarus Dang Huy Tran as the ambassador’s diplomatic mission was about to complete.

“It is hard for us to part with friends but we strongly hope that after your diplomatic mission in Belarus is over someone as kind and trusted as you are will arrive here,” the President remarked.
According to Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus-Vietnam relations go a long way back. “Our friendship is based on sacred things – the joint fight for the independence of this or that country. In this case it is the independence of Vietnam, a country that is friendly to us. In our time we did a lot for Vietnam to become independent. You also did a lot to establish the tightest, kindest and friendliest relations between us,” the head of state stressed.

He drew attention to the fact that Belarusian-Vietnamese diplomatic relations are 20 years old already. “It is certainly a fleeting moment for the history but these relations are the foundation for our future,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

Belarus-Vietnam trade is nearly USD 200 million but the President believes it is nothing if compared to the potential Belarus and Vietnam have.

“We enjoy a very respectable dialogue at the top level,” Alexander Lukashenko stressed. “And we do not have any problems with Vietnam all in all. We have common views on the international agenda. Belarus always supports Vietnam while Vietnam supports Belarus. I hope it will stay like that forever,” the President added.

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that Belarus is ready to make the transition from simple trade to tighter cooperation. He specified: “We are ready to build joint ventures in the industries you are interested in”.

The President underlined Vietnam is a rapidly developing country and has very rich natural resources. “We need you while you need us,” the head of state said.

He said he was confident that in the next few years Belarus and Vietnam will be able to advance the bilateral cooperation.

“We are now exploring all areas: we are trying to find friends and partners in Africa, in Latin America and America in general, in Europe and Asia,” said Alexander Lukashenko. “But Vietnam is a special country. We don’t have to prove our friendship and loyalty to your people and the state. It is the foundation of our advanced cooperation,” the head of state said. He requested the Ambassador to notify the Vietnamese leadership about Belarus’ readiness to expand cooperation with Vietnam. According to Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus is always ready to welcome any delegation from Vietnam. Belarusian delegations will also visit Vietnam regularly in order to discuss topical cooperation avenues.

In turn, Dang Huy Tran thanked Alexander Lukashenko for the meeting. He remarked Belarus-Vietnam relations are constantly developing. But despite the good dynamics the potential for advancing the ties is great. The Ambassador of Vietnam said he was confident that in the future political, trade, economic, scientific, technological, cultural, educational relations between Belarus and Vietnam will only grow stronger.