Party General Secretary To Lam begins state visit to Belarus
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, Vietnam and Belarus have maintained and developed the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with increasingly high political trust.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam (centre) and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly arrive at Minsk Airport on May 11 afternoon (local time), beginning a state visit to the Republic of Belarus from May 11-12 at the invitation of President Aleksandr Lukashenko. (Photo: VNA)
Minsk (VNA) ౠ- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation arrived at Minsk Airport on May 11 afternoon (local time), beginning a state visit to the Republic of Belarus from May 11-12 at the invitation of President Aleksandr Lukashenko.
They were welcomed at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Sivak, Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov, Belarussian Ambassador to Vietnam Uladzimir Baravikou, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belarus Nguyen Van Ngu, staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Belarus.
Right after arriving at the airport, the Party chief, his spouse and entourage laid flowers at the Victory Monument; visited and presented gifts to veterans and experts who had made outstanding contributions to Vietnam.
Belarusian girls in traditional costumes respectfully invite General Secretary To Lam to enjoy bread and salt according to Belarus's ritual of welcoming distinguished guests. (Photo: VNA)
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, Vietnam and Belarus have maintained and developed the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with increasingly high political trust. The two sides have regularly exchanged delegations, especially high-level ones, creating a foundation for cultivating and developing a close relationship that has been tested by time.
The two sides have developed cooperation in many fields from national defence and security to economy - trade, culture, education, science and technology, people-to-people exchange, and local cooperation.
The two sides have created a legal framework of about 50 documents, including international treaties or agreements between ministries and agencies. Nine provincial-level localities of Vietnam have established friendship and cooperative relations with six out of seven provincial-level administrative units of Belarus. Internationally, the two countries have regularly consulted and supported each other at multilateral forums and mechanisms.
Over the past 30 years, Vietnam and Belarus have built, nurtured and developed traditional friendship and good cooperation on the basis of trust, equality and mutual respect for the benefit of the people of the two countries, creating a foundation for closer and more active interactions in all fields.
🐼 The visit of General Secretary To Lam and his spouse, along with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation will create new momentum for strengthening and expanding the bilateral relations, providing orientations to further deepen the good relationship between the two countries./.
On the afternoon of May 11 (local time), Party General Secretary To Lam and his wife, along with a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, arrived in Minsk, beginning a State visit to the Republic of Belarus from May 11 to 12 at the invitation of President Aleksandr Lukashenko.
The coming state visit to Belarus by Party General Secretary To Lam is expected to create new impetus to consolidate and strengthen the bilateral relations, and open up opportunities for businesses of the two countries in trade and investment cooperation.
The ambassador said that the visit is also expected to enhance the effectiveness of existing mechanisms, form new cooperation mechanisms, help ministries, agencies, localities and businesses of the two countries to better understand each other's potential, and seek more cooperation opportunities.
The Vietnamese Party leader’s visit to Belarus holds great significance, expected to open up a new chapter in the bilateral relations, which were built on friendship, trust, assistance and mutual understanding, said Belarusian Ambassador to Vietnam Uladzimir Baravikou.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
