Lukashenko urges Tajikistan to intensify bilateral relations

During today’s meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to Belarus, Bakhtovar Safarzoda, the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, urges Tajikistan to intensify bilateral relations

Addressing the guest, the President noted, “You are already an experienced diplomat and know Belarus well. You’re well aware of our capabilities. We know Tajikistan very well. You know the relations between Belarus and Tajikistan. Our peoples have always respected each other, and we’ve always been friends. Our relations with President Emomali Rahmon are the most advanced, one might say. We have no secrets from each other, so we’re building very good friendly relations.”

At the same time, the Head of State drew attention to the fact that trade-economic interaction is the foundation of any relationships. There is still room for improvement in this direction. The President said, “The Foreign Ministry reassures me that last year’s drop in the bilateral trade turnover was insignificant, but I’m an economist and I’m used to looking at processes in dynamics. Last year we did not reduce trade turnover significantly compared to the previous year, while the latter gave us a big decrease in trade turnover. Therefore, in general, we have reduced our trade turnover.”

The Head of State stressed, “It is impossible to destroy the foundation of our relations. As I said, trade-economic liaisons are the basis. Therefore, we need to work hard in order to return our bilateral trade turnover to the stage at which it was. Of course, we have enough products and goods to increase this trade turnover. $70-80m, even $100m of trade turnover is almost nothing for our countries. I think we need to look for opportunities to increase trade turnover and decide, as we always do (I’m sure Tajikistan will accept such proposals) on goods that we can mutually trade and exchange. I say again, you know our capabilities well. We have everything that Tajikistan needs, both in the field of industry, agriculture, and the supply of automotive equipment, especially heavy trucks. You work very hard to develop the mining industry, and we can provide you with significant help and support in this area.”

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, there are no closed topics in Belarus-Tajikistan interaction, “We’re also ready to liaise with you in the military-industrial complex. You’re aware of our capabilities. Just tell us how we can help to ensure your safety. We’re ready to join, although we have already taken many steps in this direction, and you also know this well.”

The President concluded, “In a word, there are a huge number of problems and the same huge number of tasks that need to be settled. We’re ready for this. Let’s intensify our relations. In the near future, at the first opportunity, we will talk with Emomali Rahmon about determining the directions for intensifying our relationships. I think that you, as an ambassador, as a very active and promising diplomat, will make your own contribution to the development of our relations.”

The Belarusian leader thanked the diplomat for his visit to the Palace of Independence and asked to convey his warmest wishes to the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, “I ask you to convey my warmest and kindest congratulations on the upcoming New Year to my good friend Emomali Rahmon. I really want 2024 to be the most successful for the Tajik people, for Tajikistan and your leader. I wish him strong health.”

Written by sb.by