Space, nuclear power promising areas of cooperation between Vietnam and Belarus: Ambassador Baravikou

The diplomat made the remarks in a recent interview with Tuoi Tre News.

He also discussed economic and trade collaboration between the two countries, saying the Free Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Vietnam "has given a new impetus to development of relations between our countries."

Education, cultural projects, and mutual visa exemption were some of the highlights of the interview.

Could you share the main goals, outcomes, and achievements of the recent visit by Vice Prime Minister of Belarus Anatoli Sivak to Vietnam? What activities was he engaged in during the visit?

The visit by Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus H.E. Mr. Anatoli Sivak to Vietnam, which was held on 31 March – 2 April 2025, was an important step forward in further strengthening the traditionally friendly and mutually beneficial relations between Belarus and Vietnam.

Its main goal was following up and the implementation of the agreements that were reached during the latest contacts between by the leaders of the two countries, also during the official visit by Prime Minister of Belarus H.E. Mr. Roman Golovchenko to Hanoi in December 2023, and at the meeting between President of Belarus H.E. Mr. Aleksandr Lukashenko and Prime Minister of Vietnam H.E. Mr. Pham Minh Chinh on the margins of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia in October 2024.

Mr. Anatoli Sivak jointly with Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam H.E. Mr. Nguyen Hong Dien co-chaired the 16^th session of the Belarusian-Vietnamese Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, which was held on 1 April 2025 in Hanoi. The session was used as a platform for exchanging views on the main points on the bilateral agenda in trade, economy, science and technology, education, culture, tourism, etc., identify problematic issues, and agree on the way forward.

The results of the Commission session were summed up at the meeting of Mr. Anatoli Sivak with Prime Minister of Vietnam H.E. Mr. Pham Minh Chinh on 2 April 2025.

An important element of the visit was the participation of Mr. Anatoli Sivak in the ceremony of opening the Vietnam EXPO 2025 International Exhibition and the Belarus-Vietnam Business Forum on 2 April 2025 in Hanoi. The representation of the Belarusian and Vietnamese companies and organizations at both events was quite impressive.

Among the concrete outcomes were signed contracts in the amount of over US$5.4 million on the supply of trucks, tires, and beef. Agreements were also reached on both supply and production of other products in Vietnam.

There are no doubts that the visit by Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus H.E. Mr. Anatoli Sivak to Vietnam has contributed to tightening the fabric of the bilateral trade and economic cooperation, developing contacts in humanitarian, scientific and other spheres, which will have a tangible impact on the level of the well-being of every citizen.

Could you highlight some key achievements in the economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Belarus in recent times?

Our high priority in the dialogue with Vietnam is trade and economic cooperation.

We have positive achievements in this regard. For instance, in 2023, the trade turnover between the two countries reached record highs in the history of relations between modern Belarus and Vietnam.

BelAZ high-capacity dump trucks, MAZ trucks, and Belarus tractors are well known in Vietnam. In turn, supplies of Vietnamese rice, nuts, coffee, fruits, and fish products to Belarus are growing.

Recently, Vietnamese microchips and electronic equipment under the brand 'Made in Vietnam' have become widely known.

Undoubtedly, the Free Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Vietnam, which will mark its 10^th anniversary on 29 May this year, has given a new impetus to development of relations between our countries. The removal of barriers has allowed Belarusian confectionery, alcoholic, and dairy products, which are characterized by high quality and a wide range of products, to enter the Vietnamese market. In turn, Vietnam has enjoyed a number of preferences in supplying its products to the market of the Eurasian Economic Union Member States. More active engagement of Vietnam in cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union could be one of the ways to keep the trade balance on track in the face of the latest decision by the U.S. administration to impose higher tariffs on the Vietnamese products exported to the United States.

What are the potential and key areas of cooperation between the two countries in the near future? In your opinion, how can both sides collaborate to foster mutual development?

There are many avenues and spheres where Belarus and Vietnam could intensify and expand the mutually beneficial cooperation.

The priority area is trade and economy. We are at the final stage of certification of Belarusian meat products for supply to the Vietnamese market. We are ready to make our contribution to Vietnam's food security even bigger.

Industrial cooperation and technology transfer are also important spheres of interaction. We have a lot to offer our Vietnamese friends. Vietnam has significant interest in Belarusian know-how in high-tech, digitalization, industry, agriculture, food production, and more. This list goes on.

Belarus joined the club of nuclear power states. The first nuclear power plant was built and is successfully operating in our country. A space program is under implementation, several satellites have been launched. In March 2024, the first Belarusian astronaut Marina Vasilevskaya flew to the International Space Station. These are promising areas of cooperation with Vietnam too.

We should not forget about such important areas as education and culture. Belarus is offering to Vietnamese citizens good opportunities to get free high-quality education at Belarusian universities under the Intergovernmental Agreement on the development of cooperation in the sphere of education, which was signed in June 2023, and provides other attractive forms of student support, like the governmental grant program.

Continuing the practice of organization of Days of Culture, implementation of joint cultural projects, and intensification of cultural exchanges would open new opportunities to our people, especially the youth, in learning about the culture, history, traditions, and modern development of Belarus and Vietnam.

The potential is huge! There are no insoluble tasks for our countries and peoples!

Recently, the Vietnam-Belarus visa exemption agreement for holders of ordinary passports from both countries has come into effect. How do you think this will promote people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between the two nations?

The intergovernmental agreement on mutual visa exemption entering into force has become a significant step forward on the way to bringing our countries closer to each ither.

This move is expected to boost people-to-people connections, increase tourism, and promote exchanges among students, experts, and businesspeople. It will also foster cooperation between political parties, as well as youth and women's organizations – making a meaningful contribution to strengthening relations between the two countries.

I have no doubt that Vietnamese citizens who want to visit Belarus on a visa-free basis will get only positive experiences and emotions that they will keep in their memory for a long time, and which will make them come back to our hospitable country again. The same goes for Belarusian people wishing to visit Vietnam.

The next logical step, which will provide even more possibilities for mutually beneficial contacts, will be launching direct flights between our countries, which, we trust, will become a reality in the near future.