Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 21 March (BelTA) – One of Belarus’ short-term priorities is to help form a partnership network of SDG coordinators, Marianna Shchetkina, Deputy Chairperson of the Council of the Republic, National Coordinator for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, noted as she met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Fionna Gibb on 21 March, BelTA informs.

The sides discussed ways to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the task on the agenda of every country. In particular, Ambassador Fionna Gibb showed interest in Belarus’ experience in this field. Marianna Shchetkina informed the UK diplomat about the country’s relevant short-term priorities. For instance, Belarus intends to help set up a common network of national SDG coordinators to promote international exchange of experience.

The architecture for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals has been built at the national level in Belarus, the deputy speaker pointed out. Now the task is to integrate it at the local level. This is another short-term priority in achieving the SDGs.

The development of a national platform of sustainable development indicators is underway in Belarus. When the platform is complete, the SDIs will be introduced into sectoral programs. This is quite a costly project, and Belarus hopes for support from its partners, including financial assistance, Marianna Shchetkina added.

The sides also touched upon bilateral cooperation in achieving the SDGs and some other matters, related, in particular, with Belarus-UK interparliamentary cooperation.