(VOVworld) – Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong suggested Vietnam and Belarus increase technology transfers and establish joint ventures in order to strengthen economic and trade ties.

He was speaking at the 12th meeting of the Vietnam-Belarus Inter-Government Committee for Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technological Co-operation in Minsk. Vietnam and Belarus agreed to seek investors for projects in agriculture, industry, construction, finance, banking,  science, technology, healthcare, and education. They will also expand co-operation in information,communications, culture, sports, and tourism. The next meeting will be held in Vietnam in the second half of next year. The two countries’ relevant agencies are making preparations for Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s visit to Vietnam in December. Two-way trade between Vietnam and Belarus increased from 42 million USD in 2005 to 169 million USD in 2014. In the first eight months of this year, trade reached 96 million USD.