Belarus President speaks at Sudanese parliament

The agenda of the visit of Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko to Sudan also included a speech at the Sudanese parliament. The head of state told Sudanese MPs about the place of Belarus in the modern world, the foreign policy priorities, the development prospects at the national level and in bilateral relations with Sudan.

“The parliamentary dimension in the international dialogue is an important element of interaction in many fields. Parliamentary diplomacy is the highest level of people’s diplomacy. I am convinced that our meeting will help us learn more about each other, find new areas of common interest for Belarus and Sudan,” the President said.

The Sudanese side has shown great interest in this event, and the audience broke into applause several times.

On the value of peace

The President stressed that Belarusian people know the value of peace, and this understanding lies at the heart of the country’s foreign policy approaches today. “We are building the multi-vector foreign policy on the principles of peacefulness, cooperation, and mutual respect,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

On modern Belarus

“Belarus is a vigorously developing European state today,” the President noted. “In our development we rely on the huge potential accumulated in the Soviet Union era. We have created the national model of the state structure meeting the needs of the Belarusian nation in full. There are efficient institutions, an optimal economic system, and a high level of social security in Belarus.”

“Even in the complicated external conditions on the global markets Belarusian enterprises successfully compete with the best foreign manufacturers. Belarusian factories fully satisfy the country’s demand for foodstuffs,” the President added.

Belarus occupies leading positions in terms of the production and export of a number of industrial, agricultural, and food products.

“We believe that innovation, science, and technology are the key to the future. Belarus has made big progress in the development of nuclear energy, space exploration, and biotechnology. The achievements of Belarusian software engineers are recognized worldwide. Belarus is ahead of many countries in terms of the export of computer services per capita,” the Belarusian leader noted.

Belarus is also one of the leaders in the development of medicine and the availability of healthcare services.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that a lot is being done to make Belarus one of the most successful and strongest countries in Europe.

On the role of the state in the economy

The development of international contacts is one of the most important state priorities for Belarus because of the openness of its economy. “We cannot stand still amid the tough competition for markets and resources in the modern world. This is why the state is actively involved in economic affairs, and we faced enough criticism for it in the past,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “Today we are no longer criticized, many countries start using our experience. Time has shown that the decisions were right. All leading countries do not give up on the rational state support for national companies on the territory of the country and abroad.”

On purposes of the visit

“It is no secret: we have come to our Sudanese friends to, first of all, advance economic cooperation. We are interested in it,” the President stated. “Belarus is an open export-oriented country. It is very important for us to enhance the relations of trust and friendship. Our partners know that we have never let down anyone. We will not let you down either.”

According to the head of state, Sudan is an important partner of Belarus in the Arab world. The sides have confirmed the interest in advancing cooperation to a brand-new level with the ample use of the economic and technological potential of the two countries. Belarus and Sudan have signed an intestate agreement on friendly relations and cooperation.

On prospects

According to the President, a lot can be and should be done to expand bilateral cooperation. There are several promising areas for joint work.

Belarus is eager to promote its technologies in Sudan and set up joint ventures to make the entire spectrum of Belarusian equipment.

“We can do everything on the basis of science and advanced technologies, everything you need today. You are now going through the same things we were going through some time ago. You will go through this period and should know that there are friends with similar experience and all the things you need today.”

“I’ve already made the suggestions to the Sudanese head of state and suggest setting up joint ventures here to you, too. If you need the kind of enterprises [Belarus has], just tell us, support us, and we will accomplish it. We are interested in promoting Belarusian technologies in Sudan, in establishing joint ventures to make all the kinds of merchandise that we know how to make,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

The President offered to the Sudanese side assistance with establishing meat-processing factories that could come in handy taking into account peculiarities of development of the Sudanese agriculture.

The establishment of an enterprise to make baby food looks promising, believes the Belarusian head of state.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also suggested cooperation in the effective use of natural resources, in creating communication systems for government needs, including using satellite technologies.

Belarusian agrarian technologies are worth mentioning, too. “The creation of an exemplary agricultural enterprise in Sudan can be done as a pilot project. If the enterprise’s practices are acceptable to you, we will train your people and you will be able to build enterprises like that in Sudan,” noted the President.

The head of state also said he saw a great untapped potential for cooperation in healthcare and medicine, in training the relevant specialists in Belarus for Sudan. Prospects of promoting Belarusian medications and other medical products in Sudan were mentioned.

On prospects of cooperation with Belarus

“We know how to make everything I’ve said. And we are ready to make it here!” assured the Belarusian head of state.

“Setting up an enterprise in Sudan and selling high-tech products is half the problem. Teaching people how to make them is what matters. Colonial empires, major powers have always been interested in selling things to you and forgetting it,” stressed the Belarusian leader.

“Everything we are going to make together with you we will sell together in Africa and other regions. We will train your specialists and blue-collar workers. They will know how to make the things we know how to make today. We are not colonizers, we are friends,” stated Aleksandr Lukashenko.

On Africa’s future

“A time is coming when we can cooperate on a broader scale. We should grab the opportunity. I’ve told your head of state today that those, who start early in Africa, will win,” noted the Belarusian head of state.

“Africa represents the future of the entire planet. Today and tomorrow the entire world will be developing thanks to Africa,” the President was convinced.

On the role of parliamentarians

“I strongly hope that parliamentarians of Belarus and Sudan will not stay outside the process meant to smooth bilateral interaction. Including expansion of cooperation between parliaments, in economy, agriculture, education, science and technology,” assured Aleksandr Lukashenko.

The visit of the deputy speaker of the National Assembly of Sudan to Belarus in 2014 was a significant event in its time. The creation of friendship groups in the Belarusian and Sudanese parliaments and the establishment of direct ties between them can be the next step, the President was convinced.

“Thanks to joint efforts we will be able to bring our countries even closer together in the name of prosperity and wellbeing,” the Belarusian head of state was convinced.

On 17 January Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko also met with Sudan Vice President Hasabo Mohammed Abdul Rahman and Speaker of the National Assembly of Sudan Ibrahim Ahmed Omer.