Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh (r) receives Belarusian Defence Minister Ravkov Andrei Alekseevich in Hà Nội on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh has expressed her wish that Việt Nam and Belarus would step up relations, of which defence co-operation should be made a priority.

At a reception for Belarusian Defence Minister Ravkov Andrei Alekseevich in Hà Nội on Thursday, Thịnh said Việt Nam always attached importance to its partnership with Belarus.

Việt Nam was ready to act as a bridge for Belarus to enhance collaboration with ASEAN nations, she said, asking the European country to support Việt Nam’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-21.

Appreciating the fruitful defence co-operation between the two countries, especially in training and information and communications, the VP said the two sides had great potential for collaboration in various fields.

She said she supported measures agreed by the two defence ministers during this visit to make defence ties, particularly co-operation in military technology, a highlight of Việt Nam - Belarus relations.

Thịnh urged Belarus to ensure the progress of military commercial contracts, prioritise collaboration in technological transfer and production of weapons and technical equipment.

She asked Belarus to continue creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to live, study and work in the country, as well as supporting the two countries’ businesses by boosting trade exchanges.

Minister Ravkov Andrei Alekseevich said he had discussed and agreed on a wide range of military co-operation issues with his Vietnamese counterpart Ngô Xuân Lịch.

The two sides had signed an agreement on co-operation in military science and a delegation exchange in 2019, he said. — VNS