Opinions & Interviews

“Vietnam became the first state with which the Customs Union engaged in talks on the free trade area. At present the process is in its final stage. There are all grounds to believe that the corresponding documents will be signed in H1 2015,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.

He noted that this international project was initiated by Belarus. “The establishment of the free trade area without artificial barriers and restrictions will greatly help ramp up cooperation between Belarus and Vietnam,” the Belarusian head of government noted. Mikhail Myasnikovich added that this is a basic document setting forth cooperation principles and this can evolve into robust cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union and ASEAN. “This is a huge market - about 170 million people in the Eurasian Economic Union and nearly 500 million in ASEAN. We, in Belarus, pin great hopes on this project and are actively working to materialize it,” Mikhail Myasnikovich assured.

He emphasized that Belarus and Vietnam have developed very close ties, first of all on the political level. The Premier added that the key five-year priorities outlined by Vietnam in 2011 chime in with the principles of Belarus’ government policy that prioritizes innovations and improvement of living standards.

Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong is on an official visit to Belarus on 26-27 November.