On May 12, following a welcoming ceremony, President Lukashenko held talks with General Secretary To Lam.

The Belarusian president noted that this marks the first visit by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam in the past 11 years.

The two countries share a decades-long bond, formed through their mutual struggle for national liberation and continued development. This enduring friendship is regarded as a valuable asset cultivated by generations of leaders.

President Lukashenko praised Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and affirmed that Vietnam is a major friend and important partner of Belarus in Southeast Asia.

General Secretary To Lam emphasized that Vietnam always values its traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Belarus – a relationship rooted by President Ho Chi Minh and successive Belarusian leaders, and continuously strengthened over time. He stated that Vietnam considers Belarus a key regional partner and wishes to further enhance this relationship.

During their talks, both leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive outcomes of cooperation across various sectors including political and diplomatic relations, defense and security, science and technology, education and training, culture, and people-to-people exchange.

They affirmed the importance of maintaining high-level contact and maximizing the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation mechanisms suited to each country’s current context.

In the fields of economy, trade, and investment, the leaders appreciated the progress made and agreed to fully leverage the Vietnam - Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement, in which Belarus is a member.

General Secretary To Lam proposed that both sides explore measures to facilitate market access for key products such as agricultural produce, seafood, and agricultural fertilizers, in order to boost bilateral trade.

Both sides agreed on key measures to expand cooperation into potential fields such as information technology, digital transformation, education and training (especially in fundamental sciences), arts and culture, sports training, scientific research, transportation, tourism, and public exchange.

The two nations have signed a visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders, effective from January 30, 2025. This, along with joint cultural programs, is expected to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchange.

General Secretary To Lam thanked Belarus for supporting the Vietnamese community living, working, and studying there. He called on the president and Belarusian authorities to continue creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to contribute to both Belarusian development and the Vietnam-Belarus relationship.

On multilateral cooperation, the two leaders exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Vietnam reaffirmed its readiness to serve as a bridge to enhance Belarus’s engagement with ASEAN, and urged Belarus to support Vietnam and ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea, including peaceful dispute resolution based on the UN Charter and international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Following the talks, the leaders signed the joint declaration on establishing the Vietnam - Belarus Strategic Partnership and witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements in defense, science and technology, justice, healthcare, culture, broadcasting, and people-to-people exchange.

In a press briefing, President Lukashenko highlighted that upgrading the bilateral relationship reflects sincere friendship and mutual desire for long-term and effective cooperation. He also stated Belarus will supply Vietnam with key goods such as tractors, automobiles, and various agricultural products.

General Secretary To Lam affirmed that the purpose of his visit was to open a new chapter in Vietnam-Belarus relations. With the foundation of key cooperative achievements and strong mutual trust, both sides adopted the joint declaration establishing the strategic partnership.

He expressed confidence that this newly formed strategic framework would create broader opportunities for future cooperation.

Tran Thuong