Belarus, Tajikistan interested in expanding cooperation

Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko has begun his visit in Yerevan, Armenia where he will attend a meeting of the Council of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, BelTA learned from the press service of the House of Representatives.

Vladimir Andreichenko held a meeting with Chairman of the lower house of the Parliament of Tajikistan Mahmadtoir Zokirzoda. Belarus and Tajikistan traditionally have close relations and have been consistently advancing mutually beneficial strategic partnership. The Belarusian-Tajik relations rely on the trusting and friendly relations between the leaders of the two states, the parties noted.

Vladimir Andreichenko stressed that in 2021 the trade between Belarus and Tajikistan amounted to more than $126 million having increased by 12.6% year-on-year. Exports totaled more than $122 million (up by 11.1%), imports came at $4 million (up by 90.5%). Belarus’ major export items in 2021 were specific goods, sugar, timber, meat and bone meal, stationery, wallpaper, and cable products. Major imports from Tajikistan were cotton yarn, uncombed cotton fiber, dried fruits.

During the meeting, the parties reaffirmed mutual interest in expanding areas of cooperation. This could be the development of assembly production of Belarusian elevators in Tajikistan, the setting up of a joint venture to make carpets, the supply of Belarusian passenger, quarry and construction equipment, the supply of pedigree cattle of Belarusian selection, increasing export of food products, including those certified according to Halal standards. Belarus, in turn, is interested in importing raw materials from Tajikistan for the Belarusian light industry, and building up cooperation in education, culture and sport.

In addition, the parties discussed topical issues of deepening cooperation and increasing joint efforts of the CSTO member states in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and advancing inter-parliamentary cooperation in the CIS to counter the falsification of history.