Lukashenko: Belarus, Uzbekistan actively work to align mutual interests

“I already welcomed you yesterday in an informal, home setting. I want to repeat once again, now officially: I am glad you have come. At all international meetings we exchanged views regarding this visit. I told you then that we were very much looking forward to your arrival as a friend of the Belarusian people. And we are ready to do everything to ensure that the visit goes successfully,” the Belarusian leader emphasized. “As for our views, I want to say that in the main directions we adhere to the same policy as Uzbekistan. We support multipolarity. We do not want to interfere with anyone. We look to our own people, and Uzbekistan looks to its own people. But at the same time, we are carrying out very active work to align our interests.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Uzbekistan is among Belarus’ ten key foreign partners. Among CIS states it ranks third. “It certainly cannot be compared with giant Russia, but still the level is very high. We have made significant progress with you. Back in the times of your first president, I dreamed of reaching such a level of relations, but not everything worked out then. Together with you we have made this breakthrough,” the president said.

He stated that at one point, the two sides discussed the need to achieve $1 billion in trade. However, now the goal has been set at $2 billion, with corresponding tasks being assigned to agencies of both countries.

“It is very important that, in addition to joint projects (here we will strictly fulfill our commitments), with your help we could also enter third countries, especially those close to Uzbekistan. They have great interest, and we will work together. All the more so since this work has already begun,” the Belarusian leader noted.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that Belarus and Uzbekistan are discussing a number of specific projects involving companies from both sides. “You are doing great. The companies you have operating on the market are of the highest level,” the head of state noted.

He mentioned, in particular, mechanical engineering and cooperation in this area: “We have already mastered joint production of the 130-tonne BelAZ in your country. We are ready to move to the 220-tonne model. We need to advance in this direction. If there is the same level of support from Uzbekistan as now, we will do this very quickly. As for tractor manufacturing, you said yesterday that we can reach around 3,000 units [per year at the joint production facility in Uzbekistan]. We will provide service support. In general, we will make sure that across the entire mechanical engineering sector there will be nothing to be ashamed of.”

Another promising area is agriculture and processing of relevant products. Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that this sector is highly developed in Belarus. “We are ready both for supplies and for opening joint production facilities in your country, which we are already doing in poultry meat, dairy processing, and so on. We are ready to move forward in this regard,” the Belarusian leader assured.

The president also drew attention to humanitarian cooperation. “It was pleasant for me to hear that you are satisfied with our healthcare. Your people who come to us for treatment have never complained to you that we receive them poorly. They are alive and healthy, thank God. We are also moving forward in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. We are good at these areas. We are ready to share our experience, from educational processes to providing assistance to people. If you need anything, just tell us: we are always ready,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The Belarusian head of state also thanked his colleague for cultural exchange, including the concert of Uzbek masters of arts held in Minsk: “Our people are very pleased. Some saw for the first time that Uzbekistan has such a high level of culture. So it is good that we have exchanges. Last year your country hosted the Days of Belarusian Culture, and this year we hosted yours [the Days of Uzbek Culture].”

Summing up, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that given the active development of cooperation between Belarus and Uzbekistan, the current talks at the level of heads of state are symbolic to some extent. “We will bless everything that has been done up to this day. Business representatives and a huge number of companies have met, and they have agreed on many things. Humanitarian cooperation has also gained momentum. Yesterday we held a three-hour dialogue. What remains for us here? As they say in church, ‘to bless it’; or to ask Allah that all this be implemented. And that is what we will do,” the president said.