Vietnamese State President Tran Dai Quang is scheduled to begin his official visit to Russia and Belarus today, which run from June 26 to July 1.

President Quang, along with the First Lady and a delegation of high-ranking officials, left Hanoi on Monday morning to commence trips to the two European countries, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.

This is the first time the Vietnamese head of state visits Moscow and Minsk since his appointment last year.

During his stay in Belarus, which takes place from June 26 to 28, the Vietnamese leader will join talks with President Lukashenko, meet with the leader of the country’s parliament, and join the Vietnam-Belarus Business Forum.

The two nations’ bilateral trade reached US$94.5 million in 2016 and has hit $37.7 million in the first quarter of 2017, with primary exports from Vietnam including seafood, garment-textile, footwear, rice, and others.

Quang’s agenda during his visit to Russia from June 28 to July 1 consists of a meeting with President Putin, meetings with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as well as heads of the parliament and Party, and attendance at a business forum.

Vietnam and Russia established a diplomatic relationship in 1950, became strategic partners in 2001 and upgraded the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in July 2012.

According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two visits are aimed at realizing the Southeast Asian country’s diverse foreign policies to foster friendship and cooperation with its partners in a variety of fields.

During their conversations, the leaders are expected to evaluate results of cooperation in recent years and discuss new measures to strengthen ties in the future.

Other topics will be a focus on the regional and international situations and mutual support at global and regional forums for the interests of both sides.

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