Golovchenko: Belarus committed to long-term partnership with Iran

Belarus is committed to long-term and sustainable partnership with Iran – as stated by Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko during his meeting with Iranian Minister for Industry, Mining and Trade Seyed Mohammad Atabak

The Prime Minister emphasised that Belarus and Iran are long-time friends and reliable partners, “I am very pleased that in recent years we have been observing intensive contacts at all levels, from the Presidential to the expert ones. The official visit of President Aleksandr Lukashenko to Iran in March 2023 became a very significant factor for the development of our relations, and the same is true about the meeting of the heads of state on the side-lines of the BRICS summit in Kazan last October.”

At the same time, according to Mr. Golovchenko, co-operation in the economic sphere is also naturally catching up with contacts in the political sphere, “Starting from 2022, we have seen an increase in the volume of mutual trade. In 2022, it increased 3 times compared to the previous year, and it also increased in 2023. I am confident that our trade turnover will also show growth after the 2024 results are summed up. It is necessary to maintain the dynamics of contacts, and we expect and confirm our readiness to welcome the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran on an official visit to Belarus this year.”

The PM added that Belarus appreciates the visit of Seyed Mohammad Atabak as co-chairman of the joint Belarusian-Iranian commission on economic co-operation. “We believe this commission is the instrument that should transform political agreements into concrete economic projects in the interests of our states," he noted.

Mr. Golovchenko recalled that, during the Belarusian leader’s visit to Iran, a roadmap for comprehensive co-operation for 2023-2026 was signed, “Our joint commission’s task is not only to monitor the implementation of the measures included in this map, but also to initiate the development of new projects in the included areas. As I know, you have held a regular meeting, and I would like to know about the agreements, results, and problematic issues, if any. I believe we should work very hard together in the near future before the upcoming visit of the Iranian President to Belarus. The Belarusian side is committed to a long-term and sustainable partnership with Iran. We have significant reserves that we can and should use.”

In turn, Seyed Mohammad Atabak noted that political co-operation has indeed reached a new level. The overall objective is to transform it into economic projects through the work of the intergovernmental commission.