Belarus President Lukashenko presents the Order of Friendship of Peoples to To Lam

To Lam and Lukashenko -- Image via video screenshot on X

Various Sources

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko held talks with General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam in Minsk on May 12 during an official visit.

“I am glad to welcome you in Belarus. We consider you our friend. This is not the first time you are in Belarus. This is your fourth visit here...I would like to congratulate you on your new post [To Lam’s election as Secretary General last year]," Lukashenko said.

"We welcome you here as a friend of the Belarusian people. You have brought an authoritative delegation that includes the entire party leadership, the regional leadership, more than a dozen heads of ministries and agencies, leading mass media, representatives of industrial and scientific communities. You, Comrade To Lam, are a great friend of Belarus; you have visited us many times and know our country well. We are closely following the development of Vietnam, the reforms being carried out. We see the successes under the wise leadership of the Communist Party, which celebrated its 95th anniversary this year," he continued.

Talks were held at the Palace of Independence where the development of strategic cooperation between Belarus and Vietnam in key areas of the economy, politics and humanitarian affairs were discussed.

Following the talks a joint statement on the establishment of the Vietnam – Belarus Strategic Partnership was signed.

Lukashenko conferred the Order of Friendship of Peoples on To Lam saying:

"This award recognizes the great contribution made by the current general secretary to strengthening our cooperation. Thanks to you, we have saved the relations between Belarus and Vietnam and are taking them to the highest level. I am sure that with your help we will do a lot to ensure that no one will be able to destroy the foundation of our relations or even think about it. The current visit of the general secretary of the Central Committee is historic in terms of strengthening our relations."

For his part To Lam invited Lukashenko to visit Vietnam, an invitation the Belarusian President warmly expressing his intent to visit at a suitable time.