Opinions & Interviews

CHISINAU, 19 April (BelTA) - Belarus and Moldova are bound by ties of friendship and also by pragmatic projects, Moldova Prime Minister Pavel Filip said as he met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Chisinau on 19 April, BelTA has learned.

“Our relations are based on friendship and kindness. But at the same time, I must say that it is not only the ties of a sentimental friendship. Our relations are based on more specific, pragmatic projects,” Pavel Filip said.

Some of them have already been implemented. “Today we intend to agree on the new areas of interaction. Very often, ordinary people, when talking about the bilateral relations between states, say that they do not understand what they are about. They think that this is such an abstract phase. But in Chisinau one just need to look out of the window to see our common product, trolleybuses, humming along the streets of the city,” the prime minister noted.

Pavel Filip noted with satisfaction that Belarus and Moldova hold regular meetings at various levels, which helps maintain and develop fruitful cooperation. “When Moldova was going though hard times, Belarus offered its help. I am talking about the sale markets. Therefore, I wish to assure you that we appreciate your friendship and that you can rely on us,” he said.

For his part, the Belarusian president noted that Belarus supplied its products to Moldova back in the Soviet times. “Over time our products have not lost their popularity here. It is easy to work with you. You produce what we need. We produce what is in demand in your country. We do not have to compete, we need alignment, arrangements on mutual supplies,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

The head of state said that he often visited Moldova before, including during his service in the army. He added that he always recalls those times with warmth.

In 2017, the trade between Belarus and Moldova totaled $220.5 million, down by 3% as compared to 2016. At the same time, Belarusian exports grew by almost 13% to $133.4 million. Belarus mainly exported oil products, sugar, tractors and truck tractors, timber, coke and bitumen, plastic film, and fiberglass. Moldova supplied to Belarus its wines, cognacs, juices, vegetables, fruit, gypsum, carpets and floor covering.

More than 60 representative offices, subsidiaries, distribution network entities and distributors of Belarusian enterprises operate in Moldova. Three plants have been set up in the country to assemble gardening tractors Belarus-921 of the Smorgon aggregate plant, tractors of the Bobruisk plant of tractor parts and units, and Belkommunmash trolleybuses. Plans are in place to start assembling MAZ buses in Chisinau.