May 13, 2025
HANOI – Vietnamese Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and Belarus’ President Aleksandr Lukashenko delivered a joint press statement on the outcomes of their talks on Monday in Minsk, announcing the upgrading of the two countries relationship.
President Lukashenko emphasised that General Secretary Lâm’s visit marked a historic milestone in the bilateral relationship. During their talks, the two sides agreed to elevate their relationship to a Strategic Partnership. Belarus, he affirmed, will fully implement all agreements signed and exchanged during this visit. The two countries also outlined key directions for future cooperation.
President Lukashenko noted that upgrading bilateral ties was appropriate in the current context, reflecting genuine friendship, adherence to bilateral cooperation principles, and a shared desire for long-term, effective collaboration. Belarus will provide Việt Nam with its competitive export goods, such as tractors, automobiles and certain agricultural products.
The Belarusian top leader expressed hope that both sides would enhance the role and effectiveness of the Việt Nam–Belarus Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Cooperation; continue to effectively implement and fully leverage the Việt Nam–Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement; and create favourable conditions for businesses from both countries to access and expand operations in each other’s markets.
He also called for deeper cooperation with Việt Nam in science and technology, education and training, and stronger links between localities that still hold significant development potential. The two countries have already begun implementing initiatives, including opening a direct flight route to foster tourism, enhance people-to-people exchanges and promote cultural cooperation.
According to President Lukashenko, during the talks, the two leaders concurred on implementing signed agreements and drafted a roadmap for cooperation in the future.
Party chief Lâm, in his remarks to the press, thanked President Lukashenko for the warm and respectful welcome extended to the high-level Vietnamese delegation. He reaffirmed that the visit aimed to work together with Belarusian partners to usher in a new phase in bilateral relations.
The General Secretary noted that the talks had been highly successful. Both sides reviewed the current state of bilateral cooperation and agreed on major measures to broaden and deepen collaboration in traditional areas.
They also identified cooperation directions in new areas of shared potential and interest and held in-depth discussions on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
The two leaders welcomed the positive developments and significant achievements in Việt Nam–Belarus relations over the past 33 years since diplomatic ties were established in 1992. These achievements include increasing political trust and robust bilateral cooperation in various fields such as national defence and security, science and technology, trade and investment, and education and training.
Building on these important cooperation outcomes and with strong confidence in a bright future for bilateral relations, the two adopted a Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership between Việt Nam and Belarus. This declaration lays the groundwork for taking the relationship to new heights, for the benefit of the two peoples and for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
The agreements signed during the visit, covering cooperation in science and technology, healthcare, justice, culture and people-to-people exchange, mark a promising beginning for a new phase of broad, effective, and deep collaboration between the two countries in the years ahead.
Looking forward, the General Secretary stated that both sides agreed to intensify cooperation, focusing on key areas such as politics and diplomacy; continued collaboration in defence industry, military medicine, training, counter-terrorism, information exchange, information and cybersecurity and economic–trade–investment fields. They will also promote comprehensive and effective cooperation in new areas of mutual interest, such as the digital economy, digital transformation, agriculture, industry and energy.
General Secretary Lâm expressed his belief that the newly established Strategic Partnership framework would open a new strategic space for bilateral cooperation, contributing to the interests of both peoples and to peace, stability, cooperation, and common prosperity in the region and the world.