(VOVworld)-Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung today/ on Friday met with Belarus’s President Alexander Lukashenko and visited some of the economic and cultural centers of the capital city of Minsk. Earlier, Dung met with Belarus’s Chairman of the House of Representatives Vladimir Andreichenko and deputy Chairman of the Council of the Republic of National Assembly for Belarus, Anatoly Rusetsky, who praised Dung’s visit. Andreichenko and Rusetsky said the two countries’ National Assemblies have close ties and could be a very important channel in their multifaceted relationship. They pledged Belarus’ commitment to strengthening the partnership and promoting cooperation in business, trade, and investment. Dung led the Vietnamese delegation in laying a wreath in Minsk’s Victory Square and attended a party hosted by Belarus’s Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich. The two Prime Ministers said Viet Nam and Belarus will continue to exchange high-ranking delegations to consolidate political trust.  

The two leaders focused their discussions on ways to boost bilateral trade and investment. They agreed that the signing a free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union would be a breakthrough. They also sought stronger co-operation in industrial manufacturing by establishing joint manufacturing of industrial machines, providing credit, and supporting exports.

Myasnikovich proposed that both sides set up preferential mechanisms to boost trade and investment. The two agreed to improve the efficiency of the Inter-governmental Commission on economics, trade, and science and technology, and strive to meet the targets set by the Economic Co-operation Program for the 2013-15 period.

At a press conference following the talks, Dung said the two sides were in close agreement about their future cooperation. Myasnikovich said he believes the traditional friendship and potential between the two countries are the foundation for an even stronger relationship in the future.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met overseas Vietnamese in Belarus

On Friday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met Vietnamese expats in Belarus. He encouraged Vietnamese expats in Belarus to raise Vietnam’s profile with international friends. PM Dung praised the efforts made by the Vietnamese embassy staff in fulfilling their responsibilities, fostering bilateral ties and supporting Vietnamese expatriates in Belarus. He expressed his hope that overseas Vietnamese would continue their tradition of mutual support, retain their cultural identities and Vietnamese language, and encourage their children to look towards the homeland as they grow up. He reiterated the Party’s commitment to caring for the Vietnamese community overseas, saying that Vietnam considers overseas Vietnamese an indispensable part of the nation and important resources for national development.
The same day, Prime Minister Dung left Minsk concluding his official visit to Belarus. On the occasion. the two sides issued a joint communique on the outcomes of the Vietnamese Prime Minister's visit to Belarus. The communique stated that the two countries agreed to increase delegation exchanges to boost bilateral ties in politics, economics, trade, investment, national defense, security, science and technology. The two Prime Minister affirmed their determination to boost bilateral trade and investment. They agreed to facilitate the two countries' enterprises to promote trade.  Belarus pledged to ensure appropriate conditions for Belarussian and Vietnamese enterprises process goods imported from Vietnam including tea, coffee and traditional medicinal herbs in Belarus.
The two countries agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in international forums. They shared the view on supporting the UN's central role in maintaining global security, boost economic and social progresses as well as cope with global challenges including human trafficking. They agreed to coordinate on international arena and opposed the politicization of human rights issue. They supported the maintaining of peace, safety, stability and maritime security in the East Sea and solving disputes through peaceful means based on international law.