President starts Belarus visit, meeting friendship association

President Trần Đại Quang and his wife taste bread and salt at the Mínsk International Airport in the Republic of Belarus yesterday - a traditional greeting ceremony of the country. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng-TTXVN

MINSK –  President Trần Đại Quang, his spouse Nguyễn Thị Hiền and a high-ranking delegation of Việt Nam arrived in Minsk yesterday afternoon, beginning a three-day visit to Belarus at the invitation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

President Quang and his entourage were welcomed at Minsk International Airport by Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko, Deputy Foreign Minister Valentin Rybakov, Belarusian Ambassador to Việt Nam Vladimir Goshin and many other officials of the Belarusian Government.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belarus Le Anh, the Vietnamese Embassy’s staff and representatives of Vietnamese people and students in Belarus also went to the airport to greet the delegation.

Later the same day, President Quang met representatives from the Belarus-Việt Nam Friendship Association and Belarusian veterans who helped Việt Nam in war time.

He expressed gratitude to Belarusian veterans who were sent to Việt Nam from the former Soviet and socialist countries to help the country fight for independence and freedom.

The President said that the Belarus-Việt Nam Friendship Association has helped increase solidarity and mutual understanding between people of the two countries.

He said the Belarus-Việt Nam Friendship Association and the Việt Nam-Belarus Friendship Association should enhance exchanges of visits, share experience and educate young generations of the two countries to continue the friendship between Việt Nam and Belarus.

Quang expressed delight at the development of ties and co-operation between Việt Nam and Belarus over the years, particularly in politics, economy, national defence and security, science and technology, culture, education and training and tourism.

Notably, the Việt Nam and Asia-Europe Economic Union Free Trade Agreement created strong momentum in economic, trade and investment co-operation between the two countries, he noted.

Representatives from the Belarus-Việt Nam Friendship Association and Belarusian war veterans congratulated Việt Nam for the country’s national construction and development.

They co妹妹itted to strive to boost friendship between people of the two countries, contributing to promoting traditional ties and co-operation between Belarus and Việt Nam. — VNS