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Prospects for Belarus-Cuba cooperation outlined

MINSK, 11 June (BelTA) – Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko outlined promising areas of cooperation between Belarus and Cuba as he met with Cuba’s Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz in Minsk on 11 June, BelTA has learned.

Belarus and Cuba are not just partners. They are old friends and comrades, Roman Golovchenko noted. "We are jointly countering the sanctions that are a retaliation for our independent and sovereign foreign and domestic policies. Our sovereign policy is aimed at national development and improving the lives of our peoples," he said.

According to the prime minister, the bilateral dialogue between Belarus and Cuba has recently intensified at all levels, which is good news. "Last year, I met with the prime minister of Cuba twice, including during his official visit to Belarus. We discussed in detail cooperation across board and outlined clear steps to build up, first of all, bilateral trade and economic cooperation. In this regard, I welcome your visit within the framework of the meeting of the Belarusian-Cuban joint commission on trade and economic cooperation," the Belarusian head of government added.

The commission is responsible for devising joint projects that we can implement, Roman Golovchenko believes. "There are certain successes in our economic relations. Our trade doubled last year and keeps momentum this year. However, we have not achieved the desired results in every area," he said.

Roman Golovchenko identified two areas on which Belarus and Cuba should concentrate. The first is the expansion of the volume and mechanisms of bilateral trade, and the second one is projects related to joint investments in the manufacturing sector.

"I believe that the preparatory stages in the discussion of these projects have dragged on. We  already know well out capabilities and needs. It is time we step up work and move forward. One of the anchor areas is medicine and pharmaceuticals, which are well-developed in our countries," the prime minister said.

Roman Golovchenko noted that projects to set up a tractor assembly plant in Cuba and facilities to make whole-milk products from Belarusian raw materials remain on the agenda. "Therefore, I are looking forward to necessary decisions by the commission," he stressed.

The prime minister also noted that cooperation in science has a great promise. "For the past two years, we have signed more than 60 documents on cooperation in education and science, mainly in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, chemistry, veterinary medicine. We would like these agreements to become a reality and be put into production," he added.

Roman Golovchenko also noted that Belarus values its special warm and fraternal relations with the Republic of Cuba. "We are committed to developing bilateral cooperation on mutually beneficial terms," the head of government concluded.

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