Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam treasures thetraditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Belarus, stated NationalAssembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan when receiving Chairman of the Councilof the Republic of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich in Hanoi on September 25.

At the reception, the guest offered the Belarusianparliament’s condolence to Vietnam over the passing of President Tran DaiQuang.

In conveying President Alexander Lukashenko’s condolence, hesaid the Belarusian leader keeps good impressions of his Vietnamese counterpartduring President Quang’s official visit in 2017 and their meetings on thesidelines of various international conferences and forums.

The NA Chairwoman thanked the chairman of the Belarus upperhouse for coming to Vietnam to attend President Tran Dai Quang’s funeral.

Mikhail Myasnikovich took the occasion to discuss Vietnam –Belarus cooperation potential with Ngan, stressing the fact that Belarus isamong five member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which signed afree trade agreement with Vietnam.

Increased cooperation between the two countries’ law-makingbodies is key to push for effective implementation of the pact, he added.

He said bilateral economy – trade ties expanded significantlyin recent years but still can attain better outcomes.

According to Myasnikovich, in addition to traditional goodslike footwear, apparel, and farm produce, Vietnam now exports phones andcomputers to Belarus. He suggested Vietnamese firms set up joint ventures withBelarusian peers to gain a foothold in the European market.

For her part, Ngan said Vietnam attaches importance to the implementationof bilateral commitments agreed between Vietnamese and Belarusian leaders,including cooperation documents signed during President Tran Dai Quang’sofficial trip last year.

She noted Vietnam wants stronger ties with Belarus ineconomy-trade, defence, science-technology, culture-education, tourism, and cooperationbetween localities.

The sides should also capitalise on advantages brought aboutby the EAEU – Vietnam free trade agreement to expand their economic, trade andinvestment cooperation, she said.

The top legislator stressed the Vietnam National Assembly iswilling to work with the Belarusian parliament in creating favourable legalconditions for their enterprises to boost investment and trade.

Expressing her satisfaction with effective joint workbetween the two law-making bodies, Ngan expected the sides to continue theircoordination at multilateral parliamentary forums, consultation sessionsconcerning issues of common interest, and legislative experience exchanges. Theyshould also increase the role of their groups of friendship parliamentarians inboosting bilateral relations, she said.

Mikhail Myasnikovich took the occasion to invite the NAChairwoman to make an official visit to Belarus.-VNA