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PM: Belarus seeks to expand trade and economic contacts with Iran

MINSK, 29 July (BelTA) – Belarus would like to intensify trade and economic cooperation with Iran, Belarus’ Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said as he met with the Iranian delegation led by Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade Seyed Reza Fatemi Amin, BelTA has learned.

“Your visit is important and well-timed. Now is the right time to take a fresh look at our relations, to take steps to strengthen our trade and economic cooperation. We have already established very good and constructive contacts at the political level. Our countries traditionally support each other in the international arena and regularly exchange official visits. The leaders of our states met almost a year ago,” said Roman Golovchenko.

According to him, despite the external pressure Belarus and Iran provide each other with all kinds of support. “On all international platforms, be it the United Nations Organization, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, we adhere to such principles as the multipolar world, the inviolability of sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs and equal cooperation in the international arena,” the prime minister emphasized.

The mixed Belarusian-Iranian commission for economic cooperation convened for the 15th meeting on 28 July. "We had a very substantive discussion and defined the priority tasks in terms of increasing and diversifying bilateral trade. New areas of cooperation were also outlined. At today's meeting we want to look again at the tasks that we face, how we can, by mutual efforts, increase trade, open up new areas of cooperation, expand ties in high technology, and hear your opinion on the things we are underperforming,” the head of government noted.

For his part, Seyed Reza Fatemi Amin concurred that the trade and economic relations between the countries should be brought to a new level. "Our relations are of great importance. I hope that as a result of the meeting, we will make decisions on a wide range of issues," he said.

In 2021 Belarus-Iran trade was estimated at $33.3 million, up by 34.7% over 2020. In January-May 2022, the bilateral trade rose by 35.6% year-on-year.

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