TODAY.AZ / Politics

Azerbaijan, Belarus vow to tighten relationship

29 November 2016 [17:17] - TODAY.AZ

By Azernews



By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan and Belarus took another bold step to tighten the bilateral relations signing a number of documents to deepen the interaction in many spheres. 

On November 28, visiting President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko discussed with the Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev the state and prospects of advancing Belarusian-Azerbaijani relations, including trade and economic cooperation, work on joint cooperation projects, interaction in the area of investments, agribusiness, and sport.

The leaders of both countries keep high interest in developing and strengthening bilateral relations and Lukashenko's two-day visit to Baku is of great importance in view of the current economic and geopolitical situation in the region and the world.

Azerbaijan is one of important, reliable political and economic partners of Belarus. The Belarus-Azerbaijan bilateral relations are time-tested. The relations were brought to the level of strategic partnership, which is based on openness, trust, friendship and mutual assistance.

The friendship and trust established between the presidents of the countries were transmitted to all interstate relations.

There is a good practice of holding regular meetings at the highest level, interaction between the two countries’ governments, parliaments, key ministries and agencies, a well as business circles.

For his personal contribution to Azerbaijani people, President Aliyev presented “Heydar Aliyev” Order to President Lukashenko.

Lukashenko paid official visits to Azerbaijan in 2007, 2010 and 2013. In June 2015 the head of state paid a working visit to Azerbaijan to attend the First European Games opening ceremony.

This visit will contribute to further deepening of Azerbaijani-Belarusian economic and political cooperation, as President Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan is ready for active continuation of cooperation with Belarus in all directions.

“We hold regular meetings. It shows that the relations between our countries are close and friendly," said President Aliyev during the one-on-one meeting with his Belarusian counterpart on November 28.  

President Aliyev emphasized that today the bilateral format covers almost all spheres of life.

President Lukashenko arrived in Baku with proposals. The Belarusian leader is very interested in sale of products of Belarusian state-owned enterprises. These are the products Minsk Automobile Plant and Minsk Tractor Plant.

Meanwhile, Automobile Plant in Azerbaijan's city of Ganja cooperates with Belarusian plant, which was set up in just a short time, thanks to the efforts of the presidents.

Now Ganja-based factory assembles buses and tractors of MAZ, including military vehicles MAZ.

"In a short period of time, Belarus helped us in the creation of ultra-modern production, which provides food security of Azerbaijan, as well. We largely reduced dependence on foreign technology ... and began exporting manufactured machines, tractors in other countries," said President Aliyev.

Azerbaijan, in turn, is able to supply oil to Belarus and agricultural products. Indeed, Lukashenko is interested in alternative supplies of oil from Azerbaijan.

Speaking at the joint press conference Lukashenko said there is a great interest in the products of petrochemical enterprises of Azerbaijan in Belarus.

“We talked a lot today about the petrochemical industry. This is a new direction. You build many petrochemical plants,” noted Lukashenko. “We have a great interest in the products of these enterprises. It is because we have the factories, plants and we modernize them today.”

He went on to say that the new direction for cooperation is petrochemicals.

The Belarusian-Azerbaijani intergovernmental commission on trade-economic cooperation actively operates. More than 270 Belarusian and Azerbaijani companies, which deal hundreds of commodities, are involved in mutual trade. Around 45 Azerbaijani companies are dealers and distributors of the Belarusian enterprises in Azerbaijan.

Within the two-day visit the sides agreed to establish trading houses of Azerbaijan in Belarus and vice versa.  

President Aliyev noted that the value of the bilateral relationship is that the countries are not competitors.

"We produce the products that are not produced in Belarus such as fruit, vegetables and other agricultural products," said President Aliyev. "Belarus, in turn, produces those products that we import. Therefore, we agreed to specifically oversee and give direction to increase the volume of trade, which, unfortunately, is very low."

In turn, Lukashenko said that Belarus is open to Azerbaijani investors' proposals and is ready to go forward in the implementation of joint projects.

He supported the idea of Azerbaijan in development of cotton production. 2016 is expected to be a period of development of cotton growing in the country, as the government is keen to support cotton production to give a new life to this industry.

"...We can expect up to 25,000-30,000 tons of cotton, and maybe up to 40,000 tons of cotton fiber. I offered to consider possible cooperation with our Baranovich cotton factory. We have the opportunity to work there together. We do not mind if Azerbaijan will enter the capital of the company," said President Lukashenko.

Another area of cooperation could be the production of Azerbaijani carpets in Belarus, he believes.

"Let's work together to create this production and you will get not only the Belarusian market, but also the market of neighboring countries that do not produce rugs of this quality," Lukashenko added.

The countries considered cooperation in the field of agriculture and pharmaceuticals. Belarus said it's ready to build agricultural enterprises and open joint production of medicines in Azerbaijan.

One of the issues that the President of Belarus discussed in Baku was Azerbaijan's experience in the conduct of the European Games, which was held in the capital in summer of 2015.

Minsk was named a venue to host the next edition of the Games scheduled for 2019.

After witnessing Azerbaijan’s success during the flawless competitions, its brilliant opening and closing ceremonies, several countries have expressed their interest in hosting the next edition of the Games.

"Belarus will try not to lose Azerbaijan in heartfulness during the second European Games," said Lukashenko.

The Belarusian president noted that during the 1st European Games, Azerbaijan put very high requirements for conduct of this sports forum.

"We certainly cannot outperform it, but with our Belarusian sincerity, we will not yield to Azerbaijan in the opening, closing and holding the Games," said the president.

After the negotiations the parties signed a number of international documents. 

URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/156449.html

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