Vietnam and Belarus established diplomatic relations on January 24, 1992. During the past 15 years, the two countries have maintained high level political dialogue, exchanged visits at all levels and developed trade promotion and bilateral cooperation in all fields.
In trade and economic relations
Vietnam is a traditional trade partner for Belarus in Southeast Asia. Belarus continues an export surplus, increasing 1.8 times in the past three years to US$40.9 million in 2006. In the same year, Vietnam’s export to Belarus attained US$8.5 billion, up 3.4 times.
The main Belarus exports are Kali fertilizer, specialised trucks for mining, tractors, auto parts and ball bearings. Vietnam is the main market for Belarus groups such as BELAZ heavy trucks, MAZ truck, MTZ tractor, MPZ ball bearing, BPC Kali fertilizer. It also serves as a transit point for Belarus to reach other countries in Southeast Asia. In recent years, Belarus has increased exports of MTZ tractors to Vietnam.
A MAZ truck assembly line has started operating in Vietnam, with the first batch of 95 trucks.
The supply of Kali fertilizer has also increased to attain the target of 300,000 tonnes per annum.
BeloMO group and Minsk Ball bearing plant MPZ have highly valued cooperation with Vietnam, while BELSHINA tyre group has maintained time-honoured relationship with Vietnam.
Last year, Kristall and Minsk beverages started exporting products to Vietnam.
Cooperation has also begun in gas, oil and petrochemical industries.
For its part, Vietnam has exported to Belarus natural rubber, sea food, rice, peanut, processed tropical fruit and vegetables, tea, coffee, pepper, spices, printers, garments and footwear.
The Belarus-Vietnam Inter-governmental Committee on economic, trade, science and technology cooperation has continued operation. Though bilateral trade has been boosted in recent years, full potential has not been reached.
Belarus plans to develop direct bilateral trade ties, without intermediaries, to reduce commodity prices.
With advantages in quality and price, products like BELAZ trucks, Belarus tractors and MPZ ball bearings can be most efficient in the Vietnamese market. Belarus is willing to shift from trade to industrial cooperation, transferring technology, developing joint venture production lines and opening representative offices.
Belarus businesses are interested in developing cooperation with Vietnam and expanding to other markets in the region. Belarus encourages Vietnamese exports to Belarus such as seafood, rice, peanut, tea, coffee, cooking spices, tropical fruit and vegetables, pharmaceuticals and cigarettes.
Gas and oil cooperation
Belarus is preparing to expand cooperation with Vietnam in oil, gas and petrochemical industries. Vietnam is also interested in Belarusian experience in the exploration and exploitation of gas and oil, increasing output, treating natural gas and developing the petrochemical industry. In 2005, to increase service exports to Vietnam, Belarusneft group sent a delegation to visit Vietsovpetro joint venture, and a Vietsovpetro delegation visited a Belarusneft factory. The two sides have negotiated and signed an agreement on “cooperation in survey, exploration and exploitation of oil and sediment.”
In February 2007, a Petrovietnam delegation visited Belarusneft oil and gas group, negotiating joint ventures in Iran and Venezuela, and cooperation in gas and oil industry and other minerals. Initial successes are the exchange of visits and the agreement between Belarusneft and Vietsovpetro.
Science and technology cooperation
In 1995, Belarus and Vietnam signed an inter-governmental agreement on science and technology cooperation and the Inter-governmental Committee on science and technology cooperation was established.
Phase 2005-2007 of the programme has been carried out successfully, including the electronic designing centre project between Integral Science Group and Vietnamese IMI electronic group, and the MAZ truck assembly line between MAZ group and VEAM Corporation. The two sides will continue to support the MAZ assembly line project and the NMZ diesel motor assembly line and electronic design centre.
Cooperation in education, culture, sport and tourism
In 1998, the Ministries of Education of the two countries signed a cooperation agreement on education. From 1962 to now, Belarus has trained over 3,000 Vietnamese students. The number of Vietnamese students increased from 77 in 2005-2006 to 120 in 2006-2007. In September 2006, Vietnam Days were organized in Minsk and other places in Belarus.
In July 2006, a Belarus sport delegation participated in World Taekwondo Championship in Ho Chi Minh City, and the Minsk volleyball team participated in the International Volley Cup organised by Vietnam Television. Currently, Belarus and Vietnam are considering a cooperation agreement on sports and tourism.
The competitive edge of Belarus education is quality with reasonable expense, together with safety for foreign citizens. Belarus is willing to increase the number of Vietnamese students in different industries. The expansion of relations in culture and sports will increase mutual understanding and friendly ties between the two nations.
Belarus considers Vietnam a key strategic partner in South East Asia. It will promote further development of strategic cooperation.
Luu Hiep
Vietnamese
