Azerbaijan, Belarus agree to boost trade, economic, manufacturing cooperation

Azerbaijan and Belarus have agreed to bolster trade, economic and manufacturing cooperation, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev told the media after the talks with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 16 May, BelTA has learned. 

“The talks (both one-on-one and with the participation of the delegations) once again clearly demonstrate that our countries are good friends,” the Azerbaijani leader emphasized.

According to the head of state, the parties discussed in detail the development of bilateral relations in recent years, praised their dynamic development, outlined ways of further cooperation. In particular, they agreed to outline concrete steps for the implementation of the agreements, including their deadlines and responsible persons ahead of the next meeting of the intergovernmental commission in Minsk. “We need this to further increase the potential of mutual trade and economic cooperation,” Ilham Aliyev said.

“Everything we have talked about today is contextual nature. We are talking first of all about manufacturing cooperation, opening of joint productions in Belarus, Azerbaijan and increasing the potential of the joint productions opened many years ago. Machine building is our priority,” he explained.

In addition, the talks focused on the development of relations in the military-industrial complex, agriculture, transportation - all the issues that will be of practical importance for the development of the economies of the two countries.

According to the president, the members of the Belarusian and Azerbaijani delegations held productive talks the day before, which demonstrates how responsibly both the parties approached the organization of the state visit of the Belarusian president. They discussed and agreed in advance on the issues that were subsequently submitted for approval of the heads of state. “I think that such an effective form of cooperation is the most correct one and aimed at a concrete result. I am confident that in the future (not so distant future) we will see new frontiers of our relations, new enterprises, new jobs, as well as new areas of cooperation,” the head of state emphasized.

One of the topics of the talks between the two leaders was security in the region, in the CIS space. They exchanged views on topical issues of world politics. “The situation in the world is changing quite rapidly and, as a rule, for worse. New conflicts, new centers of instability emerge. Unfortunately, the existing conflicts are not solved,” Ilham Aliyev said.

Speaking about personal relations with his Belarusian counterpart, the Azerbaijani president noted that for two decades both leaders in different situations have always remained committed to such values as goodness, dignity and honesty, and have always been aimed at achieving concrete results. “I think the trustworthy relations between the leaders of our countries gives an impetus to all officials to similarly communicate with each other, be friends and work for the benefit of their countries, for the strengthening of friendly relations between our countries. The fact that these relations are friendly is clearly demonstrated today. I once again, Aleksandr Grigorievich, would like to tell you with gratitude that I consider your visit as a sign of friendship and respect,” Ilham Aliyev said.