Aleksandr Lukashenko makes official visit to Ecuador

Ecuador offers Belarus to cooperate in oil extraction, construction, agriculture, transport industry. These promising avenues of bilateral cooperation were on the agenda of the meeting between Presidents of Belarus and Ecuador Aleksandr Lukashenko and Rafael Correa Delgado which took place in Quito on 28 June.

“There are no closed themes for negotiations and we are ready to fulfil all your requests, if we can. We will be pleased to show you everything you will be interested in: science, new technologies,” the Belarusian head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Ecuador takes a special place in his visit to the region of Latin America.

President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has invited his Ecuador counterpart Rafael Correa Delgado to visit Belarus. “Our cooperation will be very efficient and dynamic if you come to Belarus and see with your own eyes what we have,” the Belarusian leader said.

Rafael Correa Delgado, in turn, expressed confidence that the visit of the Belarusian President will enhance friendly relations between the two states. "We know that Belarus is a developed country with modern technologies. It has a solid place in the world. I see that Belarus has a lot to offer to Ecuador. We have wide horizons of cooperation. And we see that our relations are based not only on commercial interests, but also on friendship," he said.

The Ecuadorian head of state pointed out that Belarus was a technological center of the former USSR and managed to preserve and upgrade its technological potential.

The President of Ecuador believes that the countries have a big potential for mutual investments, technological cooperation.

Rafael Correa Delgado said that Belarus has modern oil production technologies. He believes that Belarus could help Ecuador optimize the use of existing deposits and find new deposits in the country.

Moreover, Belarus could assist Ecuador in developing transport, agriculture, construction. "We are doing a lot to develop transport infrastructure, equip the transport industry in our country. Belarus has vast opportunities for this work. Transport and agricultural industries could become a benchmark of our cooperation," the President of Ecuador said.

The two countries have good prospects for the development of construction. "We know that Belarus was an experimental base for the development of technologies in the Soviet Union. At present Ecuador needs 1 million flats. And Belarus could help us solve this problem," Rafael Correa Delgado said.

Belarus and Ecuador could also cooperate in science, technology, and education.

"Our economies are complementary. Our countries are different but we a lot to offer," Rafael Correa Delgado is convinced.

When speaking about economic cooperation, Aleksandr Lukashenko said that Belarus and Ecuador could raise bilateral trade which is currently lagging behind the potential of the two states.

Aleksandr Lukashenko and Rafael Correa Delgado stated that they are determined to establish trade without mediators. "We can see that, according to the statistics, the volume of mutual trade is very small and those goods which go from Belarus to Ecuador are delivered via mediators, Russia is particular. We see that Belarus can supply its goods directly here,” the President of Ecuador said.

“We know that there are great prospects in direct supplies of goods. I believe this visit will give a new turn to bilateral trade and economic relations,” the President of Ecuador stressed.

“We have come here not only to see your wonderful country, your unique capital, but also get familiar with your economy, state and people,” the Belarusian leader said. Belarus is ready to cooperate in all the areas the President of Ecuador suggests. “We are ready to set up companies which you need and train your specialists,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, for a start the countries agreed to take up several cooperation areas, choose three or four projects for implementation in the near future to show Ecuador how Belarus can work. “The President of Ecuador is right saying that there can be no good economy without the appropriate infrastructure and transport vehicles. We can do it and are ready to share our practices and train your specialists,” the Belarusian head of state emphasized.

Aleksandr Lukashenko invited the Ecuadorian authorities to see the construction projects implemented by Belarus in Venezuela. “If you like it we are ready to cooperate,” he added.

“We have accepted the proposal to intensify cooperation in education, science and technology,” the President of Belarus noted.

The President of Belarus thanked the Ecuadorian authorities for warm reception. “I am confident that our future cooperation will bring great results,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

The parties have agreed to set up a joint commission of trade and economic cooperation. The relevant memorandum was signed at the meeting.

The Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ecuadorian Institute of Export and Investment Promotion signed the memorandum of understanding. Moreover, the two countries signed intergovernmental agreements on visa-free regime for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports. Belarus and Ecuador have also agreed on cooperation in education, science, technology, innovations.

The parties also signed the agreement on cooperation in the city and regional planning and housing construction.

The Presidents stated in a joint communique after their meeting in Quito that they believe that the United Nations should be reformed and democratized.

The Presidents agreed to support each other’s initiatives and candidates in international organizations. The heads of state confirmed their commitments to the idea of general disarmament and WMD destruction.

The leaders of the two countries share the opinion of the necessity to observe international law, protect human rights and stress their commitment to strengthening international peace and security.

The heads of state confirmed their interest in developing cooperation in order to consolidate energy security, environmental protection, the use of clean energy, all-round evolvement of industrial and agricultural potential of the two countries.

The Presidents believe it imperative to counteract the present-day challenges including global warming and climate change through strenuous efforts aimed at sustainable development of economy, social security and ecology.

The heads of state confirmed their intention to maintain the high-level dialogue for close and constructive cooperation between the two countries.