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ST. PETERSBURG, 14 October (BelTA) – Belarus looks forward to the intensification of investment cooperation with Serbia, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich said during a meeting with Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Maja Gojkovic in St. Petersburg on 14 October, BelTA has learned.

Mikhail Myasnikovich said that the two countries have developed the relations of trust. Serbian and Belarusian MPs actively cooperate in international organizations. He thanked the Serbian delegation for active participation in the 26th session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Minsk in July 2017. The Chairman of the Council of the Republic highlighted that many issues were solved thanks to the concerted work. In particular, the draft anti-Belarus resolutions were rejected. He thanked the Serbian side for the support of Belarus in the international arena.

This year Belarus is holding the Presidency of the Central European Initiative. Mikhail Myasnikovich invited the delegation of Serbia to participate in the meeting of the CEI Parliamentary Assembly due in Minsk on 28 November.

According to Mikhail Myasnikovich, Belarusian-Serbian relations are developing effectively, including through the influence of Serbia in Europe. “We strive to use the opportunities of your country in every possible way,” he said. He also welcomed the progress in trade and economic interaction and expressed the interest in developing investment cooperation. “The Belarusian Parliament will create the necessary favorable environment for the Serbian investment in Belarus,” he said.

The chairman of the Council of the Republic emphasized the possibilities that open up for Serbia as Belarus’ partner in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). “Belarus is an active member of the EAEU which also comprises Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. We have a common market, almost restriction-free. If the Serbian business is present on the Belarusian market, it means it is present on the market of other EAEU member states,” said Mikhail Myasnikovich.

Maja Gojkovic, in turn, also spoke in favor of the development of bilateral relations in various areas. She stressed the need to develop qualitative proposals for more effective cooperation. MPs of the two countries could play an active part in it, she added.

Mikhail Myasnikovich and Maja Gojkovic also discussed the possible visit of the chairman of the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament to Serbia in H1 2018.