Belarus, Vietnam to promote trade via trading houses

MINSK, 6 December (BelTA) - Belarus could open its trading houses in Vietnam and Vietnam in Belarus, the Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mr Anatoly Rubinov suggested as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of Belarus Mr Do Van Mai, who recently began his diplomatic mission in Belarus, BelTA has learnt.

“Belarus and Vietnam have all the conditions for fruitful and effective cooperation. We have very good and long-standing relations with Vietnam,” said the Chairman of the Council of the Republic and recalled that in January this year the countries marked 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. However, the history of the Belarusian-Vietnamese cooperation is longer than that. Back in the Soviet period, some 50 years ago, Belarus cooperated with Vietnam in education. During this time in Belarusian universities trained over 1,000 Vietnamese and provided assistance in training of about 150 Candidates of Sciences.

In addition, Mr Anatoly Rubinov noted: "The Vietnamese are very enterprising people. We know that if three Vietnamese get together they will definitely come up with some business idea, be it trade or manufacturing.” However, the economic cooperation between the two countries is modest, and it must ne promoted, believes Anatoly Rubinov: "It is necessary to intensify this cooperation. Political relations are good. We support each other in the international arena. We do not have any political or ideological differences. And yet the economic cooperation could have been more impressive. Anatoly Rubinov suggested considering the creation of Belarusian trading houses in Vietnam and vice versa. "If there will be a trading house, there will be a framework that will encourage the development of trade," he said. The Chairman of the Council of the Republic noted that the parties have repeatedly exchanged visits at the level of heads of state, heads of government and Parliament.

In turn, the Vietnamese Ambassador noted that the inter-parliamentary cooperation between Vietnam and Belarus is at a high level. “Exchange of visits by parliamentary delegations of different levels has become regular, which contributes to the development of bilateral relations," Mr Do Van Mai said. The diplomat also added that the countries have already established a good foundation for further interaction.