Article by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Uladzimir Baravikou, “VietnamNews”

“Belarus and Vietnam – time-tested friendship”

Belarus and Vietnam have long-standing warm relations. Vietnam is one of our key partners in South-East Asia.

We see significant progress in your country in recent times. The economy is gradually recovering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. GDP is growing. Political contacts, as well as the role of Vietnam on international area, are expanding. We express congratulations with the successful hosting of the Southeast Asian Games. All this is the exceptional merit of the Vietnamese people under the leadership of the Communist Party.

Our countries have a lot in common. The Vietnamese people, like the Belarusian people, throughout their history have learned to survive and resist aggression.

On July 3, we celebrate a public holiday – the Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus. This day in 1944, the capital of our country, the city of Minsk, was liberated from Nazi invaders. During the Second World War, a real genocide was applied to the Belarusian people – every third Belarusian, more than 3 million people, died. More than 200 cities and settlements were destroyed and burned. But we survived and restored the country. We cherish the memory of that war, which for us will forever remain the Great and Patriotic War!

Today, Belarus is once again denied the right to an equal and mutually respectful dialogue, the right to live on its own land according to its own Law. We are not listened to! Labels are hung on us, countless and baseless sanctions are imposed. Our friends and partners are under unprecedented pressure.

Belarus has never been a friend against or to the detriment of anyone. It has always proceeded from the need to ensure mutual benefit and take into account the interests of partners, even when they have taken unfriendly steps. We have always taken responsibility, we have been a donor of security and stability in Europe. That is why our State has done, it is doing and it will do its best to peacefully resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

We highly value friendly ties with Vietnam and we strive to bring our relations to the level of strategic partnership. In confirmation of this, in May of this year, we opened the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.
This year is significant. Belarus and Vietnam established diplomatic relations 30 years ago! But the history of friendship and mutual sympathy between our peoples is much deeper. Thousands of Vietnamese citizens studied and worked in our republic during the years of the Soviet Union. Belarusians helped the formation of an independent Vietnamese state. We managed to maintain sincerity, mutual sympathy and a deep degree of trust in each other.

Belarus is interested in restoring the pre-Covid level and the dynamics of contacts with Vietnam at high level. We hope that this year it will be possible to organize the visit of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus to Vietnam.

In 2021, the trade turnover between the countries reached more than $200 million. However, the potential in this area is far from exhausted. BELAZ mining dump trucks, MAZ trucks, Belarus tractors have been known in Vietnam for many decades. By the way, it is the Belarusian tractor that is depicted on the banknote of 200 Vietnamese dong. Many people also remember the legendary motorcycle "Minsk", known since the days of the USSR. In turn, the Belarusian consumer is well acquainted with such traditional Vietnamese goods as silk, seafood, tea, coffee, etc. Recently, Vietnamese microcircuits, electronic equipment under the brand "Made in Vietnam" have become widely known.

Belarusians know and like the resorts of Vietnam well. They like the local weather, the availability of services and many other advantages compared to other countries. We will be glad if Vietnamese citizens visit Belarusian sanatoriums, nature reserves, places of military glory, plunge into the atmosphere of the centuries-old traditions of the Belarusian people. The only thing missing is direct flights. But we are working on it: we are working on the launch of charter flights, and in the future, possibly regular ones.

In the relations between our countries, the folk wisdom “ A friend in need is a friend indeed” has a special meaning. In December last year, Belarus delivered to Vietnam a humanitarian cargo with a total weight of more than 15 tons, containing medical equipment and personal protective equipment. In response, the Vietnamese side handed over tests to Belarus to determine the coronavirus infection.

Even though we are separated by more than 7 thousand kilometers, I am convinced that the long-term strong and sincere friendship of our peoples will adequately respond to emerging challenges and bring cooperation between our countries to a higher level.