Events

MINSK, 16 February (BelTA) – An official visit of Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif to Belarus is scheduled for 16-18 February, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus.

It is planned that the Foreign Ministers of the two countries will hold talks in Minsk on 17 February. “The parties are expected to discuss a wide range of issues related to the Belarusian-Iranian relations,” the press service said.

In December 2014 Foreign Minister of Belarus Vladimir Makei paid a working visit to Iran. The parties discussed the state and prospects of the Belarusian-Iranian cooperation in the political, trade, economic and investment areas. The sides confirmed readiness to continue constructive cooperation in the international arena.

According to the website of the Belarusian embassy in Iran, the two countries enjoy constructive cooperation in the international arena. Belarus and Iran support each other to the election bodies of the UN establishments and other international organizations. Both the countries support the strengthening of the UN role in addressing economic and humanitarian issues, giving more responsibility to the UN Security Council in the issues of maintaining peace and security.

Belarus and Iran have common positions on the main issues of the international agenda. The parties have signed about 40 international agreements and legal documents as part of developing the legal framework of the bilateral cooperation.

The trade between the countries has a positive dynamics. Belarus’ main exports to Iran include trucks, acrylic fiber and strap, metal products, tyres, news-print, bearings. Iran supplies to Belarus fruit and dried fruit, nuts, medical devices and pharmaceutical products. The investment area occupies an important place in the Belarusian-Iranian economic cooperation. A number of Iranian companies are implementing investment projects in Belarus (construction of hotels, business and housing complexes). Iran’s investment in the Belarusian economy totaled $14.8 million in January-September 2014.