Belarus intensifies co-operation with far arc countries

The large foreign business trip of the President of Belarus was a key topic in the information space. The Middle East, China, Africa, participation in the World Climate Summit in Dubai, dozens of meetings and negotiations, a huge number of new projects and agreements — both the route and agenda  of the Belarusian leader’s foreign visits are amazing in scale. Following the results of these foreign visits, Aleksandr Lukashenko convened a meeting at the Palace of Independence, during which he set clear goals. The Head of State demands that the government and other responsible parties promptly join in the implementation of the agreements reached.

“Today I would like to discuss with you the results of our business trip — the government delegation and mine along the far arc, as we often call it,” the President said.
The geography of visits stretched effectively from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. The President explained that the near arc includes Belarus’ neighbors and partners from the CIS countries.

“Russia and the People’s Republic of China are two states, with which we have the most advanced relations. It is a different story. You know that the President’s decisions on each of these states have been adopted and are being implemented. And the ‘far arc’ has been defined. The states that are of great interest to us are located to the north and to the south,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

On working with India

Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned the advancement of co-operation with India although neither the President nor members of the government have visited this country recently.
“Work with the Indian state is another matter. We have been unable to come up with a fundamental solution. Back in the day the former Minister of Foreign Affairs tried to come to grips with it,” the Head of State emphasised.
The President instructed incumbent Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Aleinik to put forward proposals on how to deal with these issues soon, no later than the first quarter of the next year. “I want to see a plan for work with India. Specifically, a plan. Just like we did it in Africa with Equatorial Guinea. We don’t need tourist trips. We need solutions for concrete issues,” the Head of State explained.

On monitoring the implementation of agreements in Africa

“When it comes to Africa, I want to warn everyone. I have invited the vice premiers to this meeting, although they don’t know the details of these preparatory visits of our specialists and ministers. I have invited you to ask you to oversee the fulfilment of the arrangements reached during these business trips,” the President said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Belarus had approached work with Equatorial Guinea differently, “Everything proceeded under my strict control. The Minister of Foreign Affairs came to this country to establish contacts. Specialists got down to work after that. When they visited this country prior to my visit, ministers outlined 15 main areas of our work and 74 specific projects that we have agreed to implement jointly with our friends in Equatorial Guinea. And they must be implemented. I absolutely insist on this and warn you.”
This is why the Head of State instructed Presidential Aide Aleksandr Kosinets to oversee the work with Equatorial Guinea and Kenya in the Belarus President Administration. “You will be in charge. Note it down and oversee it. Study all the aspects of this matter. This work should be under control of the Belarus President Administration. I don’t want situations that occasionally happen when we have to revisit our relations with foreign partners, scrap something or add something. We have reached agreements, and we need to implement these projects,” the Belarusian leader emphasised.
The President noted that during his trip to Equatorial Guinea, he openly said that Belarus was not going to engage in any charity. 
“We are not the money-printing America. And not China that has a huge amount of reserves. And not even Russia. We should take care of our financial interests and work extremely conscientiously. We have very good prospects there. They need everything that we know how to make,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
Speaking about Kenya, the President addressed Viktor Sheiman, “I have already told you during the flight to get involved in African matters the way you used to do. You should oversee this matter as a special envoy of the President. Regarding Kenya, you know that their President asked us to help with three big things, and we can benefit from helping them with these and other matters, too. Therefore, Africa, and Kenya in particular, is your area of responsibility. You were the one to get our foot in the door there. So you will be responsible for it now.”

On a productive visit to China

As for the People’s Republic of China, First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov should be responsible for work with this country. Nikolai Snopkov attended the recent highest-level negotiations in Beijing together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Aleksandr Lukashenko called the visit to China very useful and productive. China is ready to work on the matters the parties discussed during the visit, “We didn’t hear a ‘no’ [during the negotiations]. Chinese President Xi Jinping was receptive to all our proposals saying that China was ready to work, advance co-operation, join efforts, and proceed in a friendly manner. China is the future of the entire planet. The fact that we have good relations with it is our benefit, our accomplishment.”

On the United Arab Emirates

As for the Emirates, they work with us on individual matters. There is no slowdown anywhere. We agreed that we may work together in Africa. They have a very big interest in it. Taking into consideration their influence in the world and their financial resources, they can do a lot there. Therefore, if they are interested in certain projects, they are welcome to join us,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

On general tasks

The Head of State encouraged all the participants of the meeting to work effectively, consistently and promptly to implement the agreements reached with various countries. To do this, it is important to work as a team. “Everything should be concentrated in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Everything should be there. Let’s see how the new Minister of Foreign Affairs will deal with these issues. There are a huge number of issues. This is why I want both Sheiman and Kosinets to get involved and so on. The government and ministers will have to implement all agreements. I warn you against any slowdown,” the Belarusian leader said. 

There should be no foot-dragging — this is the main point made by the President 

Press Secretary of the Belarusian President Natalya Eismont told journalists about some of the results of the meeting with the Head of State, “The President convened a meeting to tell the government and other officials to immediately get down to implementing the agreements that were reached during the important talks abroad. The visits were extremely eventful and strenuous. The President had never left the country for so long. Everyone saw how many meetings and negotiations the President held and how many flights he took. From the Pacific to the Atlantic, as the Head of State described it.”
The visits helped thrash out co-operation plans with the so-called far arc countries. Co-operation prospects with these countries seem to be very bright. 
Africa is one of the most promising markets. The President is encouraging everyone to work hard, fast and effectively.
As the President noted, there are no problems in co-operation with China. This is our strategic partner with whom we have co-operated and will continue to co-operate.
There is also great mutual interest in expanding co-operation with the United Arab Emirates. Not only in a bilateral format, but also as part of joint projects in Africa, as the Head of State remarked.
Negotiations held by the government delegation in Uzbekistan and Vietnam were also discussed. Prime Minister delivered a detailed report on the outcomes of the visits. Belarus-Uzbekistan co-operation is about specific plans and projects. And we are reinvigorating our relations with Vietnam. Both sides are ready for this.
The President emphasised that the vice premiers should be actively involved in the work, just like ambassadors and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a whole. 
In general, the results have been reviewed, tasks have been set, responsibilities have been distributed. There should be no foot-dragging — this is the main point made by the President.

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by