Opinions & Interviews

Belarus sees equality of nations as essential for civilizational development of mankind

MINSK, 4 November (BelTA) – Only the equality of all nations can ensure the civilizational development of mankind, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Igor Sergeyenko said at the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa on 4 November, BelTA has learned.

"Only the equality of all nations can ensure the civilizational development of mankind. We all need a world comfortable for living and development. A world that we will not be ashamed to pass on to future generations. Otherwise, there is no point in talking about the goals of sustainable development,” Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he addressed the International Conference on Eurasian Security, which ended just a few days ago in Minsk.  Africa, which has the youngest population on the planet, has rightly declared this year the Year of Education. Currently, most countries in this region are experiencing a shortage of qualified workers in healthcare, agriculture, information technology, and mid-level specialists in various sectors of the economy," Igor Sergeyenko said.

Belarus helps its African friends not in words, but in deeds, the speaker stressed. "Citizens from 33 countries of the African continent are studying in our educational institutions. We are ready to significantly increase the number of places allotted for international students. In addition, the Belarusian side can assist in creating or improving the system of vocational education in African countries, teach applied blue-collar specialties," the Belarusian Parliament speaker said.

As BelTA reported earlier, a delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus led by Speaker of the House of Representatives Igor Sergeyenko is on a visit to Midrand, South Africa on 4-5 November at the invitation of Chairman of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Fortune Charumbira to take part in the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament. For the first time in history, the Belarusian parliament will be given the opportunity to speak at the official opening ceremony of the PAP session. The National Assembly of Belarus and the PAP are expected to sign a memorandum of cooperation,  according to which the Belarusian parliament will be granted the status of an observer to this organization.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Igor Sergeyenko is set to meet with the leadership of the PAP, the National Assembly of South Africa, and heads of parliamentary delegations of African countries.

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