Pakistan, Belarus agree to boost cooperation under SCO framework

Islamabad: Pakistan and Belarus have agreed to boost cooperation under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) framework.

The agreement was reached as Pakistani and Belarusian Foreign Ministers held meeting in Islamabad to discuss the bilateral ties.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Sergei Aleinik visited Islamabad from May 30-31, 2023 on an official visit on the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The two sides vowed to strength cooperation within the framework of the SCO, the United Nations and other International Organizations on matters of mutual interest, and reaffirmed their readiness to mutually support each other.

During the visit, Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, in addition to holding comprehensive delegation-level bilateral talks. Sergei Aleinik also held meetings with the Minister of Economic Affairs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

During their meeting, the two Foreign Ministers had a wide-ranging and substantive discussion on a variety of topics including political, economic, technological, cultural, educational and multilateral cooperation in an atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding. The two sides agreed to take practical measures to translate the mutual goodwill between the two governments and their peoples into tangible cooperation in different fields, said a joint statement issued after the meeting.

The Ministers expressed satisfaction with the friendly relations based on mutual respect, friendship and trust established between the Republic of Belarus and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and highly appreciated the bilateral meetings and interaction at the highest and high levels that have taken place in recent years.

They appreciated the holding of the 6th Session of the Joint Belarusian-Pakistani Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation on January 12-13, 2023 in Minsk under the chairmanship of the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Belarus Viktor Karankevich and the Federal Minister of Energy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Khurram Dastgir Khan.

The ministers expressed their interest in strengthening cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the United Nations and other International Organizations on matters of mutual interest, and reaffirmed their readiness to mutually support each other.

The ministers noted the desire of both countries to expand the legal framework of bilateral relations and welcomed the signing of the agreement between the government of Belarus and the government of Pakistan on the Abolition of Visas for holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports as well as between Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad and Belarus Institute of Strategic Research.

The ministers pledged to support business initiatives aimed at development of trade and industrial cooperation between the two countries, among other things, through the participation in exhibitions and fair events in both countries, holding face-to-face and online negotiations, business councils.

Taking into consideration, that February 3, 2024 will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Belarus and Pakistan, the Ministers welcomed the intention to develop a plan of joint events dedicated to the anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus expressed his gratitude for the reception given to the Belarusian delegation and invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan to visit the Republic of Belarus at a convenient time.