Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 7 February (BelTA) - We appreciate the position of Latvia on Belarus’ geater engagement with the EU, Belarus Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov during the meeting with Latvian counterpart Maris Kucinskis in Minsk on 7 February, BelTA has learned.

“We appreciate the interest and balanced position of Latvia on Belarus’ greater interaction with the European Union and its balanced and pragmatic approach to the nuclear power plant project (in Ostrovets – noted by BelTA),” Andrei Kobyakov said.

Belarus attaches great importance to the development of mutually beneficial trade and economic relations with Latvia. After a decline in previous years the bilateral trade got back on the growth path in 2017. In January-November of last year, the trade made up almost $400 million (an increase of 27%). Latvia traditionally ranks among the largest investors in the Belarusian economy. Belarus is home to more than 600 enterprises with the participation of the Latvian capital. The country is ready to provide favorable conditions for investors, to assist in promoting all initiatives for the sake of maximizing the potential of bilateral cooperation.

Belarus and Latvia have agreed to support joint projects in the markets of the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union and the projects as part of China's New Silk Road initiative.

Transport and transit remain the strategic avenues of the Belarusian-Latvian interaction. Belarus is interested in joint efforts to create guaranteed and cost-effective channels for transit.

A priority area of cooperation is sport and tourism, including the development of new tourist routes, road and transport infrastructure, improvement of highways and border crossing points, including with the financial assistance from the European Union. This is especially important in the light of Belarus’ hosting the Second European Games in 2019 and the two countries’ co-hosting the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in 2021.

“We look forward to continued constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation with Latvia in a spirit of good-neighborliness, partnership, mutual respect for each other's interests,” Andrei Kobyakov noted.