Opinions & Interviews

Belarus hailed as strongest thread in Silk Road fabric

MINSK, 19 April (BelTA) – Belarus is the strongest thread in the Silk Road fabric, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he delivered his Annual State of the Nation Address on 19 April, BelTA has learned.

The president noted that the People's Republic of China is an important strategic partner of Belarus. Interaction between the two countries has entered into a new era, reaching the level of special trust-based comprehensive strategic mutually beneficial partnership. This topic will be discussed next week during a visit of the Belarusian leader in China.

Today Belarus plays an important role in the implementation of international initiatives of China. “Belarus is the strongest thread in the Silk Road fabric!” stressed the head of state.

The president said that Belarus wants the European Union to become one of the pillars of its foreign trade, comparable with the Eurasian Economic Union. “Today we, perhaps like no other in Europe, is interested in the EU to undergo some reforms and grow stronger rather than disintegrate. I would like the Europeans to hear it once again. For us social and economic sector, people’s wellbeing is one of the key, fundamental human rights, the country’s security,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The Belarusian leader is convinced that “people’s basic rights and freedoms cannot be secured in an instable society neck deep in poverty, crime and terrorism.”

Belarus is building a constructive dialogue with the United States. “We have disagreements but we are ready to search for areas of common interest in different areas,” the Belarusian head of state said.

Belarus has been strengthening cooperation with the Latin American countries. “We are active in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia where partnership with a number of states has already become large-scale. Political contacts at the supreme level secure a favorable environment for advancing the economic interests of our country,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

print version

make home page

add to bookmarks