Hanoi (VNA) – Belarusian Prime Minister RomanGolovchenko’s official visit from December 6 to 9 holds special importance asit will affirm Vietnam’s key role as one of the important partners of theEastern European country in Southeast Asia, said Belarusian Ambassador toVietnam Uladzimir Baravikou.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, Baravikousaid the visit, to be made at the invitation of PM Pham Minh Chinh, will be thefirst to Vietnam by a Belarusian leader after the COVID-19 pandemic. The resumptionof high-level political ties is of great significance.

Hesaid Vietnam is highly crucial in his country’s foreign policy as it is adynamic economy based on modern technology, has an increasing population, andboasts a potential and promising market along with an effective foreigninvestment attraction system.

With its impressive successes in socio-economicdevelopment and the growing stature in the international arena, Vietnam canhelp Belarus expand cooperation to across Southeast Asia, he continued.

Belarus is highly interested in expanding and enhancing cooperation withmembers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly intrade and economy, the ambassador noted, describing this region as a promisingdestination for farm produce, machinery, equipment, and other goods from hiscountry.

Heheld that Vietnam can substantially contribute to the expansion of Belarus’s partnershipswith ASEAN members.

PM Golovchenko’s visit will senda clear signal to all the partners interested in establishing mutuallybeneficial cooperative ties. It will affirm the two countries’ common interestsin further strengthening and developing comprehensive cooperation for the sakeof both sides.

Baravikou expressed his belief that thanks toshared efforts, the two countries will weather every difficulty and obstacle onthe path to a new height of their relations.

Lookingback on bilateral ties during the past more than 30 years, he said Belarus andVietnam have taken a long path of developing win-win relations which havereached a high level of political communication.

Manyjoint projects have been carried out in various spheres, from defence,security, trade, investment to science, culture, education, sports, andtourism. Connections between the two countries’ regions have been set up. Parliamentarylinks have also been reinforced while parliamentary friendship groups takenshape. Besides, hundreds of Vietnamese students are enrolling on courses atBelarusian universities.

Since the pandemic ended, inter-sectoral collaborationhas been growing considerably. Aside from about 20 mutual visits between lawenforcement bodies of both countries in 2022 and 2023, the Belarusian cultureand education days were also held in Vietnam and new cooperation deals signedthis year.

There are now more than 90 agreements between thetwo countries, providing legal frameworks for bilateral relations. Somedocuments are being prepared and could be inked during this time’s visit toVietnam by PM Golovchenko, according to the diplomat.

He highlighted Belarusian and Vietnamese partners’ shared attention at different levels to maintaining and reinforcing mutually beneficialties.

Itis important that both sides understand each other’s demand and interests tocreate new opportunities for advancing their relations, he added./.