Vietnamese Party leader To Lam begins state visit to Belarus

Their aircraft landed at Minsk Airport at 3:38 pm local time, following the conclusion of a four-day official visit to Russia, during which they attended the 80th anniversary of Russia’s Victory in the Great Patriotic War on May 9.

At the airport, which was vibrantly adorned with the national flags of both countries, General Secretary Lam and his wife were welcomed by Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Sivak, Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov, and Belarusian Ambassador to Vietnam Uladzimir Baravikou.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belarus Nguyen Van Ngu, along with embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in the Eastern European country, also attended the reception, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

A Belarusian woman presented Party chief Lam's spouse, Ly, with a bouquet of fresh flowers.

Following Belarusian tradition, two women in traditional attire ceremoniously offered them bread and salt – a customary gesture of hospitality for distinguished guests in Belarus.

The couple then shook hands with Belarusian and Vietnamese officials and walked between two rows of honor guards standing at attention.

Immediately after the reception, the delegation proceeded to lay a wreath at the Victory Monument in Minsk.

They also participated in a tribute event, visiting and presenting gifts to Belarusian veterans and experts who had made significant contributions to Vietnam.

New impetus for promoting ties

This visit marks the first by a Vietnamese Party General Secretary to Belarus in 11 years and is expected to create new momentum for strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, Vietnam and Belarus have nurtured, maintained, and developed a traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with increasing political trust.

Cooperation spans various fields, including national defense and security, economy and trade, culture, education, science and technology, people-to-people exchanges, and local partnerships.

Belarus is committed to fostering balanced and mutually beneficial trade relations with Vietnam, viewing the country as a strategic partner and a ‘gateway’ for expanding Belarusian exports to Southeast Asia, the Vietnam News Agency cited Belarusian Ambassador Baravikou.

Nine Vietnamese provinces have established friendship and cooperative relations with six of Belarus's seven provincial-level administrative units.

On the international stage, Vietnam and Belarus have consistently consulted and supported each other at multilateral forums and mechanisms.