MINSK – President Trần Đại Quang has expressed his hope that Việt Nam and Belarus will join hands in more investment projects covering such areas as agricultural product processing, machinery manufacturing, infrastructure construction and metro routes.

Appreciating the establishment of the first automobile assembling and manufacturing joint venture between Việt Nam and Belarus, President Quang told Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov during their meeting in Minsk on Tuesday that the Vietnamese Government will facilitate the operation of the joint venture.

He noted with pleasure the fruitful development of the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, considering it a firm foundation for both sides to advance their cooperation, especially in economics, trade and investment.

The leader affirmed that Việt Nam is willing to connect Belarus with the ASEAN market, to which the country is a member.

He appreciated the two sides promoting the rank of the President of the Subcommittee of the Việt Nam-Belarus Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic-Trade and Scientific, Technological Co-operation in order to better materialise consensus and desires of the two countries’ leaders, aiming to lift bilateral trade to US$500 million, and even $1 billion in the time to come.

President Quang used the occasion to thank Belarusian authorities and competent agencies for their support for the Vietnamese community, helping them stabilise their life in the host country.

He called on the Belarusian Government to create more favourable conditions for the entry and exit of the Vietnamese to and from Belarus.

For his part, PM Kobyakov conveyed his belief that President Quang’s visit will create an impetus for the bilateral co-operation across fields.

He said the Việt Nam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement and the Protocol on supporting the production of motored transport vehicles in the territory of Việt Nam have generated great opportunities for the two countries to enhance their economic, trade and investment ties.

The leader pledged to instruct relevant Belarusian ministries and agencies as well as businesses to closely coordinate with their Vietnamese counterpart to effectively implement the agreement.

Belarusian stands ready to import Vietnamese agricultural products, he said, suggesting the two countries set up more joint ventures as the Belarusian Government will facilitate their operation.

Host and guest shared the wish to continue the bilateral collaboration in national defence and security, science-technology, culture-sports-tourism, education and training.

On this occasion, President Quang conveyed Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc’s invitation to PM Andrei Kobyakov to visit Việt Nam. The Belarusian PM accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Later on the day, President Quang and his entourage visited the Victory Square and laid a wreath at the Victory Monument with an eternal flame in the square.

On Tuesday evening, President Alexander Lukashnko hosted a banquet for President and his entourage. — VNS