Ryzhenkov: we’re going to N. Korea because it is beneficial and interesting for us
Belarus counts on the development of trade-economic relations with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea because it is profitable, interesting and productive for our country – as noted by Belarus’ Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhenkov after today’s meeting with President Aleksandr Lukashenko on international issues
On July 23rd-25th, Foreign Minister, heading the Belarusian delegation, paid a return official visit to North Korea at the invitation of the DPRK Foreign Ministry.
Commenting on co-operation with the DPRK, Maksim Ryzhenkov noted that the country is very interesting – contrary to different fakes spread by various resources to an international audience, “This is a hardworking, neat, and developing country. Construction is underway in all the cities that we have visited. Pyongyang is a very clean and good city. From the point of view of a country comfortable life, it will give a head start to many countries. In terms of cleanliness and landscaping, I will say that Europe pales in comparison. From the point of view of applying specific efforts, we also have something to look at and find for our consumers, and they need our products.”
In particular, Maksim Ryzhenkov highlighted pharmaceutical products, adding that the Belarusian side handed over a certain nomenclature, from which those positions that the country needs were selected. Moreover, there is an interest in food supplies: North Korean partners are interested in such items as milk powder, beef, and baby food.
Humanitarian co-operation was discussed separately.
“Training issues have been also tackled. We have agreed on the training of doctors, the development of techniques and technologies. I was pleasantly surprised by the educational programmes for preschool and primary school children. We have immediately agreed that our specialists would come and see how to work with this category. There are many areas of joint humanitarian, cultural, and sporting activities. In the near future, our specialists will also exchange visits in order to take a more substantive look at the bilateral areas that could be developed,” the Foreign Minister said.
He also added that in the field of education, the parties have agreed on inter-university co-operation.
The Foreign Minister also stressed that developing relations with the DPRK is a sovereign decision of Belarus, “We are going there in full confidence that it is profitable, interesting and productive for the Belarusian side. Our interests are here. Of course, we understand that North Korea is a reliable and very confident partner who will not abandon us in favour of some overseas interests.”
