COMMENT: The Ambassador of Vietnam spoke about historical victories and friendship with Belarus

Nguyen Van Nguy Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of Belarus Independence and sovereignty came to Vietnam at a high price; the long-suffering Vietnamese people endured all the hardships to build a strong state. The importance of this was noted to a BELTA correspondent by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of Belarus Nguyen Van Nguy on holidays, when the Vietnamese people celebrate the day of liberation of the South and the reunification of the country (April 30, 1975) and the 70th anniversary of the historical victory in Dien Bien Phu (May 7, 1954 which led to the signing of the Geneva Accords to end the Vietnam War. The HEAD of the diplomatic mission spoke about the historical events that led to the final victory for independence.

“These two important events created the basis for Vietnam to enter a new stage in the construction and development of a state with a social orientation,” the ambassador noted. “For more than 35 years of implementing the renewal policy, Vietnam has strived for the goal of a “prosperous people, a strong country, democracy, equality and civilization" and achieved glorious victories and great achievements of historical significance."

Nguyen Van Nguy noted that currently the level of Vietnam's economy has increased many times, the standard of living of the population is increasing, socio-political stability is being maintained, and national defense and security are being strengthened.

“In 2023, GDP was estimated at $430 billion, and GDP per capita was $4,300. The socio-economic situation in the first three months of 2024 is characterized by positive results, indicating that the economy continues its positive recovery trend,” said the Vietnamese Ambassador. - Macroeconomics "is generally stable, inflation is under control, and GDP in the first quarter increased by 5.66%, the highest first-quarter growth in four years."

In addition, the diplomat emphasized the importance of the fact that tourism continues to recover actively, almost returning to pre-Covid levels. The number of foreign tourists in the first 3 months of 2024 reached 4.6 million, up 72% year-on-year and higher than the number of visitors in the first quarter of 2019 (pre-pandemic).

The Vietnamese people represent not only a heroic, hardworking and hospitable country, but also a peace-loving state that strives to be friends with all countries and peoples of the world.

"From an embargoed country, Vietnam has expanded and deepened relations with 194 countries and territories in the world, established comprehensive strategic partnerships, strategic partnerships or comprehensive partnerships with more than 30 states, including all five permanent members of the UN Security Council," - continued Nguyen Van Nguy.

The ambassador said that the country's position is increasingly strengthened and cited the following facts: "The international community has entrusted Vietnam to assume many important international obligations in multilateral mechanisms such as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (in the period 2020-2021, with a record number of votes of support - 192 of 193), Vice-President of the 77th UN General Assembly, member of the UN Human Rights Council (period 2023-2025), Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, UN International Law Commission (2023-2027). Thus, Vietnam actively contributes to maintaining peace and security in the region and throughout the world."

As Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, noted, “Vietnam has never had such wealth, opportunities, position and international prestige as it does today.”

The ambassador emphasized: “Since gaining independence on September 2, 1945, and especially after the complete liberation of the South and the reunification of the country (1975), under the talented leadership of leader Ho Chi Minh, the wise and correct leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese people have united on the revolutionary path, overcoming countless difficulties , hardships and sacrifices in the name of protecting the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, freedom to choose one’s own path of development and respect for the rights of every person, and has achieved a lot towards strengthening the independence, freedom and pursuit of happiness of the Vietnamese people.”

At the same time, Nguyen Van Nguy said that Vietnam always remembers and appreciates the selfless support and assistance of many countries, friends of the international community, including the Soviet and Belarusian people, provided to it both during the war years and in the peaceful construction and development of the country.

The Ambassador spoke in detail about the relations between Vietnam and Belarus, which go back to Soviet times. President Ho Chi Minh's visits to Belarus in 1957 and 1961 marked important events in relations between the two countries. During the Vietnam War, Belarusians were among the Soviet specialists who came to help Vietnam and shared its difficulties. Belarus also helped Vietnam train thousands of students, graduate students and workers, sent a large amount of technical equipment, provided medical equipment and medicines to prevent the covid-19 epidemic , for which the Vietnamese are very grateful and never forget it.

Nguyen Van Nguy believes that Vietnam and Belarus have a lot in common. “Both countries have gone through years of hard struggle to gain national independence, protect sovereignty and territorial integrity, and our peoples are peace-loving, hardworking, hospitable and have a strong will to rise. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on January 24, 1992, Vietnam and Belarus have maintained and developed relations traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with increasing political trust," the diplomat said.

The parties regularly exchange high-level and top-level delegations, creating the basis for the development of close, time-tested relations, cooperating in many areas - from national security and defense to the economy, trade, culture, education, technology, interregional contacts and humanitarian exchanges.

The ambassador said: “The two states have created a solid legal framework for the development and strengthening of cooperation in various fields, including about 50 international treaties and interdepartmental agreements, 10 provincial-level Vietnamese entities have established relations of friendship and cooperation with six regional-level entities of Belarus.” .

In the international arena, both countries adhere to similar positions, regularly consult and support each other in multilateral forums and mechanisms. Vietnam and Belarus are also members of the Eurasian Economic Union free trade agreement.

“However, the two countries still have great potential for further cooperation, which can be exploited, especially in the economy, trade and investment,” says Nguyen Van Nguy.

“Pursuing a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralism, diversification of international relations, active and positive international integration, being a friend, reliable partner, active and responsible member of the international community, Vietnam wishes to continue to strengthen and develop friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with Belarus for the benefit of the two peoples, in the name of peace, cooperation and development and in accordance with the changing international and regional context,” said the head of the diplomatic mission.

According to him, the highlights of bilateral trade and economic cooperation are such important cooperation projects as the joint venture for the production and assembly of MAZ-Asia trucks (put into operation in 2019) and the joint venture for the production of dairy products Au Viet MILK .

“In 2023, the two countries jointly held the Day of Belarusian Culture in Vietnam, the Day of Belarusian Education in Vietnam, and a team of Vietnamese athletes took part in the Second Games of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Belarus and left deep feelings and love in the hearts of Belarusian adherents. These successes can be perceived as bright flowers that decorate the good relations between the two peoples,” said the Vietnamese Ambassador.

He also continued: “The official visit to Vietnam of the Belarusian delegation led by Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko in December 2023 gave new impetus and moved bilateral relations to a new stage. Although there is still a lot of untapped potential. For example, in the trade and economic sphere, strong EXPORT The products of the two countries are complementary. Vietnam has many products such as rice, coffee , seafood, as well as textiles and clothing, which are well known in the world market, while Belarus is known for potash fertilizers, agricultural machinery, MEAT products, milk and many other high-quality products. products. That is, there are many points for product exchanges."

The Ambassador is convinced that tourism is also one of the promising areas of cooperation, especially after the signing of an intergovernmental agreement on a visa-free regime (it will come into force after the completion of domestic legal procedures).

“Since Vietnam unilaterally abolished visas for Belarusian citizens in 2015, the number of Belarusian tourists in Vietnam has increased many times, and famous tourist destinations in Vietnam, such as Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Mui Ne, have also begun to be studied by Belarusians. In turn, many Vietnamese tourists want to visit such famous sights of Belarus as the Nesvizh and Mir castle complexes, which are recognized by UNESCO as cultural heritage, as well as the Brest Hero Fortress and Belovezhskaya Pushcha,” the diplomat noted.

“Many Vietnamese who studied or worked in Belarus in Soviet times also want to see your country again,” he emphasized. “When the Agreement between Vietnam and Belarus on a visa-free regime and the Agreement between Belarus and RUSSIA on the mutual recognition of visas come into force, the number of Vietnamese tourists traveling to Belarus and Russia will definitely increase."

“It is expected that in the coming months both sides will hold many events to exchange delegations to implement the agreements reached during the official visit of Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko to Vietnam,” said Nguyen Van Nguy. “We can hope that ministries, departments, regional authorities and businessmen of the two countries will establish active contacts with each other, taking into account mutual benefits."

“Despite the difficult international and regional situation, there is reason to believe that Vietnamese-Belarusian relations will continue to develop, that we will overcome temporary difficulties and challenges in order to constantly strengthen cooperation in many areas and in the near future not only restore the dynamics and pre-Covid indicators, but also to actively promote cooperation further for the benefit of the two peoples,” concluded Nguyen Van Nguy.

Alina GRISHKEVICH,
BELTA.