Interview by Ambassador of Belarus Uladzimir Baravikou to the Radio «Voice of Vietnam»

Good afternoon, dear Ambassador! Congratulations on the 105th anniversary of the diplomatic service of Belarus! Please tell us about the outstanding achievements of Belarus in the field of foreign policy and diplomacy with other countries recently, especially with Vietnam.

Good afternoon! Thank you very much for the greetings. It is very pleasant to realize that this significant date for each Belarusian diplomat is known and remembered in Vietnam.

Since gaining independence in 1991, Belarus has established diplomatic relations with 183 countries, including Vietnam on January 24, 1992. Today, our country is represented in the world by 71 foreign institutions, among them 57 embassies, 2 permanent missions, 11 consulates general and 1 consulate in 57 countries, including the Embassy of Belarus in Hanoi and the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. If adding the non-resident Ambassadors, Belarus is represented in 105 states – the same number of years of the Belarusian diplomatic service. Behind these figures stands persistent and hard work of Belarusian diplomats.

Belarus as a founding country of the United Nations has made and continues to make an important contribution to strengthening the UN role in global and regional processes. Among Belarus’ most significant initiatives are recognition of the diversity of paths of progressive development, creation of global partnerships, combating human trafficking, as well as resolutions of the UN General Assembly on nuclear disarmament, illegal unilateral economic measures, restoration of territories affected by the Chernobyl accident, and others.

Belarus has always been and remains a responsible member of the international community, and is ready to continue to be a donor of stability and security on the continent. But we do not accept mentoring from the collective West. In the face of illegal sanctions, together with our allies and friends we are becoming stronger.

An indicator of recognition of Belarus’ important role in regional integration is the participation of our country as an observer in the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Perhaps, the main achievement of Belarusian diplomacy is its contribution to the formation and strengthening of a sovereign, independent, respected, and future oriented Belarusian state, which has become a full-fledged subject of international relations, where every resident, be it a Belarusian or another national, feels good and comfortable.

Vietnam has been and remains one of Belarus’ priority partners in Southeast Asia. Time-tested friendship, trust and mutual understanding between our countries are a solid basis for building up mutually beneficial cooperation on a wide range of issues.

Over 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, a solid baggage has been accumulated, consisting of hundreds of mutual visits at the highest and high levels, including three visits of heads of state to Vietnam and Belarus, more than a hundred bilateral interstate, intergovernmental, interdepartmental and interregional documents, dozens of important projects in trade, economic and investment spheres. The Belarusian diplomatic service gets much credit in this regard.

The year 2023 will be remembered for the successful official visit by the Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko to Vietnam. This is the first visit of the head of the Belarusian government in the last 12 years. What are the main results our two countries achieved during this visit?

The official visit by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus H.E. Mr. Roman Golovchenko to Vietnam that was held on December 6–9 became the main event in Belarusian-Vietnamese relations last year.

The concrete results of the visit were agreements reached at the highest level on implementation of joint projects on mutual supplies of products of industrial, agricultural and pharmaceutical enterprises, exchange of technologies for processing municipal solid waste and tires, training of Vietnamese specialists in higher educational institutions of Belarus, and others.

23 documents on cooperation were signed, including an intergovernmental agreement on visa-free travel for holders of national passports, which will further simplify contacts between people.

In Hung Yen province, a foundation stone of the Belarusian-Vietnamese Friendship Alley was laid next to the existing joint Belarusian-Vietnamese enterprise MAZ Asia for the assembly of vehicles. We believe that this alley will become a symbol of the future Belarusian industrial cluster in the region.

The main result is the resumption of the practice of exchanging visits at the government level between our countries, which was interrupted during the pandemic. This visit will serve as the foundation for implementation of new initiatives and projects in 2024 and beyond.

Would you highlight the main directions of Belarusian-Vietnamese cooperation, as well as prospects for interaction in 2024?

Surely, trade and economic cooperation is the main priority. Our country is ready to increase the trade turnover of food products and agricultural raw materials with Vietnam. Recently, there has been an increase in the supply of traditional agricultural goods from Vietnam to Belarus – rice, coffee, spices, nuts, fish products, and seafood.

We have started to supply dairy products, vegetable oil, confectionery, and alcoholic beverages to Vietnam. We hope for the successful completion of certification of Belarusian meat products for supply to the Vietnamese market. We are ready to increase our contribution to ensuring food security in Vietnam.

A new form of joint work between our countries is industrial cooperation. A successful example is the MAZ-Asia company in Hung Yen province. Other promising projects for production of organic fertilizers, veterinary vaccines, baby food, and waste disposal are also under development.

Cultural and generally “people’s” diplomacy plays a significant role in strengthening friendly ties between states.

Contacts between people are the basis for building long-term and mutually beneficial interstate relations. We have seen this more than once on the example of Belarusian-Vietnamese cooperation.

Last year turned out to be rich in joint projects and visits in the areas of culture, education, sports, and tourism. In May, the Days of Belarusian Culture were held in Ho Chi Minh City, in June – the Days of Belarusian Education in Hanoi.

Vietnamese athletes performed well at the 2nd CIS Games, which took place in Belarus from August 4 to 14, 2023.

Belarusians know well and love the resorts of Vietnam. They enjoy the local weather, accessibility and the high level of services. We will be glad, if Vietnamese citizens visit Belarusian sanatoriums, nature reserves, go on excursions to places of military glory, and plunge into the atmosphere of centuries-old traditions of the Belarusian people.

I am confident that establishment of direct flights between our countries in the future will significantly increase tourist flows and business, cultural, scientific and educational contacts between our countries.

This year will be no less eventful and productive than the previous one.

We have a number of joint visits and events planned. The main emphasis will be on implementation of the agreements reached during the visit of the Prime Minister of Belarus to Vietnam. Particular attention will be paid to the trade and economic component of cooperation.

We also plan to continue active contacts in political, humanitarian, scientific and other fields. We are determined to continue close cooperation between the foreign ministries with plans to organize a visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus to Vietnam. We will work to restore the practice of exchanging visits at the level of heads of state.

We are always happy to welcome children from Vietnam to Belarusian summer camps. In August 2019, at the invitation of the President of Belarus Aleksander Lukashenko a group of Vietnamese children were on vacation at the Zubrenok children's health center.

We expect continuing the practice of exchanging visits by delegations from law enforcement agencies. It is planned to implement once again the project of exchanging for holidays groups of children of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus and the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam who died or were injured while on duty. Last year, the trips to Belarus and Vietnam left the children with the most vivid and unforgettable impressions!

As they say, there is enough work for everyone this year!

There are only 3 weeks left until the 2024 Lunar New Year. What do you expect from Vietnam this year?

On the New Year eve, you always want to believe and hope for the best. Faith and hope are inherent in all people, nations and states.

We believe that Vietnam, under the wise leadership of the Communist Party and its leader, Comrade Nguyễn Phú Trọng will achieve even more significant success in socio-economic development, improving the standard of living and well-being of citizens, strengthening the authority and role of the Vietnamese state in the region and in the world.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to congratulate all people of Vietnam on the Tet Holiday and wish them good health, mutual understanding, well-being and prosperity.

May this year bring new interesting plans, ideas, projects and opportunities for their implementation. May warmth, love, peace, joy and happiness settle in every heart and every home in the new year!

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