Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 30 January (BelTA) – Belarus attaches great importance to fostering relations with Germany, Marianna Shchetkina, Deputy Chairperson of the Council of the Republic National Coordinator for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, noted as she met with Vice President of the Bundestag Petra Pau on 30 January, BelTA learned from the upper house of the Belarusian parliament.

The sides discussed Belarus-Germany interparliamentary interaction and exchanged views on the role of parliaments in achieving the SDGs. Marianna Shchetkina expressed interest in further expansion of cooperation and offered to speed up the implementation of joint projects in economy, science, social sphere, and tourism. She also stressed the need to map out joint social protection measures in the context of informatization. “In light of the digital transformation of the economy, we need to be thinking together about how to enable comfortable conditions for people, preserve jobs and create new ones,” she emphasized.

In turn, Petra Pau pointed out that Belarus-Germany cooperation can be more intensive, including with the help of bilateral interparliamentary interaction. She talked about the work of the Bundestag and achieving the SDGs. Plans were also voiced to form a new group of friendship with the Belarusian parliament.

A Belarusian delegation led by Marianna Shchetkina met with Joachim Bertele, Head of the Directorate for Foreign Policy, Security Policy and Global Issues at the Federal Chancellery. The sides discussed collaboration in economy, social and foreign affairs. During the negotiations, they achieved an agreement to step up cooperation in all fields of mutual interest. “Belarus-Germany relations have a great potential for further development,” Marianna Shchetkina underlined.

The Belarusian MPs are in Germany on a visit from 28 January to 1 February. The delegation comprises Chairperson of the Council of the Republic’s permanent commission on legislation and state construction Alla Bodak, members of the Council for Sustainable Development, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the head of the UNDP project. The visit is meant to promote Belarus-Germany cooperation, exchange experience in achieving the SDGs, and expand interparliamentary contacts with the assistance of the UNDP and Germany’s Support Program for Belarus.