Interview by the Consul General of Belarus in Ho Chi Minh City, R.Varankou, to the daily newspaper “Thanh Nien” (April 24, 2024)

Vietnam and Belarus still have great potential for cooperation

Consul General of Belarus in Ho Chi Minh City, Ruslan Varankou, discussed with the “Thanh Nien” newspaper the achievements and potential of cooperation between Minsk and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as between Vietnam and Belarus.

Youth exchanges
Reflecting on the milestones in diplomatic relations between the two countries, Consul General Varankou recalled that both sides have made hundreds of high-level visits, including three state-level visits on each side. Both countries collaborate in various areas, including: education, science, technology, culture, sports, tourism and youth exchanges. “Belarus and Vietnam have signed over 100 agreements and are implementing numerous trade and investment projects. Additionally, both sides support each other in international fora,” said Ruslan Varankou.

Regarding youth exchanges between the two countries, Mr Varankou noted that this is one of the important areas of bilateral cooperation. He cited the historical fact that the Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRYU) and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union share a common foundation. The Belarusian Union emerged from the Soviet Komsomol, inheriting its best experiences and traditions, while the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union was established under the guidance of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh. “This fact demonstrates that both unions share the same language and ideals,” he concluded.

Mr Varankou believes that the Belarusian Republican Youth Union and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union have unlimited potential for interaction.

The active participation of BRYU in shaping the key directions of state policy in Belarus is well-known. This is evidenced by the participation of 80 representatives of the organisation in the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly – the main constitutional body of people’s representation in the country, which will commence in a new capacity on April 24-25. The significant role of the Ho Chi Minh City Communist Youth Union in reinforcing the ideological foundation of the Communist Party of Vietnam is also widely recognised. According to Mr Varankou, these factors create boundless opportunities for interaction between the BRYU and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

“Through the exchange of visits, we gain a better understanding of each other and establish strong connections,” commented the Consul General of Belarus.

Agreement between Ho Chi Minh City and Minsk
Ho Chi Minh City and Minsk signed a cooperation agreement in 2008. Consul General Varankou stated that since then, many events have been organised between the two cities. “One of them is to determine, based on a common document, a list of events of mutual interest for the two cities. This agreement serves as a fundamental document for Minsk and Ho Chi Minh City to build cooperation programs, essentially road maps,” he said.

During the agreement’s tenure, numerous activities were carried out based on these cooperation programs. The implementation of the agreement was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, but Mr Varankou noted that both sides are determined to compensate for the lost time. “We are currently finalising work on agreeing to a similar document for the period 2024-2026, which is expected to encompass many economic, trade, and humanitarian activities,” he said.

The Consul General of Belarus emphasised that regular contact is maintained between the two cities, with numerous visits occurring at the leadership level.

Potential for cooperation
According to Consul General Varankou, the priority for Belarus in bilateral cooperation with Vietnam is the development of trade relations. In 2023, the trade turnover between Belarus and Vietnam reached a record level, amounting to approximately 250 million US dollars, which is 35% more than in 2022. Belarus’s exports were about 85 million US dollars, and imports were about 163 million US dollars.

“As you can see, Vietnam’s exports are almost twice as high as those of Belarus. To balance trade turnover with all countries, Belarus is striving to increase the supply of products to Vietnam. Following the successful certification of dairy products in 2020, we aim to complete the certification of Belarusian meat in Vietnam,” he shared.
To develop the tourism sector, the aviation authorities of both countries initiated negotiations on opening direct flights. Consul General Varankou noted that Vietnam has the potential for Belarusian companies to participate in infrastructure projects, such as providing road, urban, and passenger equipment, environmentally friendly urban transport for the city’s needs, and transferring relevant experience.

“We need to create more success stories to attract more Belarusian enterprises to invest in Vietnam in general and in Ho Chi Minh City in particular,” he urged.
The diplomat cited the example of an enterprise in Hungyen province that assembles Belarusian trucks and sees similar potential for Belarusian tractors. Achieving the required level of localisation will open up the ASEAN market.

“We are also making efforts to reintroduce the legendary Minsk motorcycle to the Vietnamese market. There are many other unexplored areas where we can collaborate for mutual benefit, and our goal is to identify and explore them,” said Mr Varankou.

Similarities
On the eve of the 49th anniversary of the Liberation of the South, the reunification of the country and on the eve of the 79th anniversary of Independence Day, Consul General Varankou highlighted that historically, the Belarusian people also celebrate the days of unification and liberation.

According to him, Independence Day of Belarus (July 3) is dedicated to the liberation of the capital Minsk from Nazi Germany. This year Belarus celebrates the 80th anniversary of its Independence, which Mr Varankou considers the most significant event in the Belarusian history. Following in importance is the National Unity Day (September 17), which commemorates the reunification of the western and eastern parts of Belarus in 1939 after 18 years of forced separation against the will of the Belarusian people.
“In Vietnam, I often encounter similar historical events shared by both countries. In my opinion, these similarities help our people better understand each other and subconsciously draw closer,” he shared.

“On the occasion of Unification Day in Vietnam, I would like to wish the Vietnamese people peace, prosperity, good health, and the successful fulfilment of all tasks set by the leadership of the Party,” Mr Varankou expressed.

Many areas of activity of the Consulate General of Belarus
Consul General of Belarus in Ho Chi Minh City, Ruslan Varankou, informed the “Thanh Nien” newspaper that despite the relatively recent establishment of the Consulate General of Belarus it has actively organised numerous events. The Consul General, along with officials and employees of the Consulate General, played an essential role in their successful implementation.

Since its opening in December 2023, the Consulate General has expanded its consular district to include 17 additional provinces and cities, thereby enhancing its diplomatic presence. Notably, the Consulate General facilitated two visits by Ms Nadzeya Lazarevich, the First Deputy Chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee, to Ho Chi Minh City, fostering dialogue at the city level.

Furthermore, the Consulate General presented a substantial business delegation from Belarus, comprising more than 36 organisations, at the Vietnam Expo 2023 exhibition. Simultaneously, the Belarusian-Vietnamese business forum was organised, serving as the foundation for concluding bilateral trade agreements.

Days of Belarusian Culture were celebrated in Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, aiming to introduce Vietnam to Belarusian culture. “These initiatives reflect bilateral relations in many areas. Both the Consulate General and I dedicated ourselves to the successful implementation of these important initiatives,” said Mr Varankou.