Vietnamese President Calls for Strengthened Defense Cooperation Between Vietnam and Belarus

On the afternoon of December 17, President Lương Cường met with Lieutenant General Khrenin Viktor Gennadievich, Minister of Defense of Belarus, who was visiting Vietnam to attend the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition 2024.

President Lương Cường affirmed that the Party, State, Military, and people of Vietnam highly value the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Belarus, a relationship that has been nurtured over generations by the leaders and people of both nations.

Expanding Vietnam-Belarus Bilateral Cooperation

The traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and Belarus have continued to strengthen and develop, particularly in:

• Political and diplomatic relations, which serve as the foundation for deeper collaboration in other areas
• Defense and security cooperation
• Economic, trade, and investment partnerships
• Education, science, and technology
• Cultural exchanges, tourism, and people-to-people ties

Minister Viktor Gennadievich recalled the long-standing ties between the two countries, highlighting President Hồ Chí Minh’s historic visit to Belarus and the support of the Soviet Union, including Belarus, for Vietnam’s struggle for national independence.

Belarus Prioritizes Vietnam in Its Asia-Pacific Policy

Minister Gennadievich emphasized that Belarus regards Vietnam as a priority partner in its Asia-Pacific foreign policy. He reaffirmed Belarus’ commitment to:

• Strengthening bilateral cooperation despite geographical distance
• Maintaining shared positions on international and regional issues
• Supporting a multipolar world that serves the interests of both nations

He also briefed President Lương Cường on the outcome of his discussions with Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Văn Giang, noting positive developments in Vietnam-Belarus defense cooperation, which have:

• Enhanced professionalism and combat readiness of both militaries
• Contributed to the overall strengthening of bilateral relations

The Minister expressed his hope that his visit would serve as a catalyst for a new phase of enhanced defense cooperation between the two countries.

Strengthening Bilateral Defense Cooperation

President Lương Cường welcomed the positive developments in bilateral defense relations, which have been effectively implemented in accordance with signed agreements and commitments.

He proposed that both sides:

• Further deepen defense cooperation through high-level delegation exchanges
• Maintain and enhance existing cooperation mechanisms
• Expand collaboration in military training, medical services, and military history research

He also encouraged Belarus to continue supporting and promoting the traditional friendship and multi-sectoral cooperation between the two nations, particularly in defense and security.

Invitation to Visit Belarus

On this occasion, Minister Viktor Gennadievich conveyed an invitation from President Alexander Lukashenko for President Lương Cường to visit Belarus at a mutually convenient time.

President Lương Cường graciously accepted the invitation, stating that he would assign relevant agencies to coordinate the visit through diplomatic channels.