Opinions & Interviews

DUSHANBE, 15 May (BelTA) - Belarus is ready to work with Tajikistan in all areas, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said after the talks with Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, BelTA has learned.

“We are ready for the active work in all areas of mutual interest, for the benefit of our hardworking and friendly peoples of Belarus and Tajikistan,” the Belarusian leader underlined.

“This meeting reaffirmed the long-established friendly status of our relations based on the principles of respect and trust. We intend to continue to maintain a dialogue at the highest level,” the head of state noted.

According to him, during the talks the parties had a thorough discussion of the issues of bilateral trade and economic cooperation, and noted the good prospects for increasing cooperation in industry and agriculture.

The Belarusian head of state noted that the trade with Tajikistan has been growing rapidly. Last year the trade more than doubled and continues to expand. Belarus’ exports are tractors, special-purpose vehicles, food. “Our flagships BelAZ, MAZ, Gomselmash are present in your country and operate a network of commodity-producing subsidiaries. The first facility assembling Belarusian agricultural equipment was opened here last year. I believe that this project will be a starting point for building long-term ties in various fields of industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and others. It is the joint production of quality competitive goods that will make economic cooperation between Belarus and Tajikistan effective and mutually beneficial,” the president said.

Alexander Lukashenko noted that Belarus and Tajikistan seek to find reliable business partners and build long-term relations.

The Belarusian head of state thanked Tajikistan and President Emomali Rahmon for the organization of the second international business forum Belarus-Tajikistan-Afghanistan and the National Exhibition of Belarus. He also welcomed business representatives from other countries of the region. “It would be great to see this business forum serve as a basis for the development of robust trade and economic relations with Tajikistan and other countries of the region,” the Belarusian leader said.

The states have been steadily developing humanitarian cooperation. The Days of Belarusian Culture and Cinema are underway in Tajikistan. Next year artistic companies of Tajikistan are set to visit Belarus.

According to the president, the number of Tajik citizens studying in Belarus has been on the rise in recent years. Four joint faculties have already been established on the basis of Belarus’ major universities. A center of Belarusian education, science and culture will be opened at the Technical University of Tajikistan. "Tractors, cars and other hardware products are important. They mean trade and money. There are more important things, however. These are people, personnel. If there are no trained specialists, there will be no trade,” the Belarusian head of state said.

He added that many citizens of Tajikistan receive education in Belarus. It is also important to train specialists on site. “If we launch, for example, a joint production of tractors tomorrow, we need to train specialists there. They will soon become engineers and will share their knowledge with others in Tajikistan,” said Alexander Lukashenko.

The president is confident that the bilateral relations will be further developed through the roadmap of Belarus-Tajikistan cooperation for 2019-2020. The document envisages a wide range of cooperation areas. “Emomali Sharipovich [Rahmon] has suggested raising our relations to the level of strategic partnership. I think that this two-year roadmap will serve as a good foundation for the strategic partnership we are going to endorse,” the head of state said.