Aleksandr Lukashenko pays official visit to Kazakhstan
- 13
Belarus and Kazakhstan are eager to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, economic, investment, scientific and technical areas, seeking deeper economic integration between the two countries. With this, the priority will be given to further development of industrial and agricultural cooperation through the implementation of joint projects. The statement was made by President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko and President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev during their negotiations in Astana on 4 October.
“I’ve come here to check the fulfillment of our instructions that we gave to the governments and the ministers,” the Belarusian head of state said. The two presidents agreed to meet every year for this purpose.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that regular meetings between leaders of the two countries was a very correct practice and encourages responsible parties in Belarus and Kazakhstan to fulfill the tasks they are given.
The Belarus President remarked that the two nations have a lot in common and are accustomed to earning their own living. “As the presidents we try to build a solid foundation for future generations, for those, who will come after us. So that the policy we now pursue would become the foundation of their efforts. The fact that interests of our nations are the cornerstone of our mutual relations means a lot, there is no doubt, it will always be welcomed by new generations,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The President of Belarus stated that in the last few years the sides have managed to secure rather good results in manufacturing cooperation and research and technology cooperation. “It is the mutually beneficial cooperation that allows us to replenish the domestic market of the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space with our own products, raise the competitive ability of the economies, and create jobs,” believes the Belarusian leader. “At the same time ways to improve the effectiveness of newly established enterprises are pushed to the forefront. It is advisable to step up localization and expand the product choice in addition to starting the manufacturing of Belarusian-Kazakh products.”
According to the Belarus President, the establishment of a Kazakh-Belarusian center for training and retraining engineers at premises of the S.Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University is an important step. Apart from that, efforts are being put into the establishment of a Belarusian-Kazakh research to practice center for surgery and transplantology. “One can say the project is an example to follow and we should step up efforts to accomplish it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.
According to the Belarusian head of state, tight cooperation between research and education institutions in the development of joint innovative products becomes particularly important.
Cooperation in agribusiness seems increasingly vibrant, too. “Belarus has certain experience of setting up agro-towns in addition to achievements in the area of crop production and animal husbandry,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
The Belarusian side believes that cooperation in transportation is important. “For the sake of enabling equal conditions to develop a competitive market of automobile transportation services we should tear down the existing barriers and restrictions,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
Investment cooperation is a vital branch of the bilateral interaction. According to the Belarusian head of state, Belarus is interested in the presence of major Kazakh companies.
“We are interested in the presence of major Kazakh capital in Belarus. We are ready to back proposals on cooperation in various areas at the state level,” the Belarusian President remarked.
The President also sees a serious potential for an increase in mutual trade and investments via the development of interregional ties.
The Belarus President believes it is necessary to constantly seek new forms and avenues for partnership in most versatile fields. “Today it is a priority task for our governments,” he said.
As far as the participation of the two countries in integration structures, Belarus and Kazakhstan should utilize advantages of the Single Economic Space as much as possible in order to strengthen the mutually beneficial relations.
“Kazakhstan is a reliable friend and ally for us. Together we are building a unique formation in the post-Soviet space – the Eurasian Economic Union – that will give broader opportunities for developing our economies,” the President said.
“We have to utilize advantages of the Single Economic Space as much as possible in order to strengthen the mutually beneficial relations between our countries,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
According to the Belarusian head of state, the adoption of a bilateral trade and economic cooperation roadmap for 2014-2016 will contribute to reaching the goal. It is a comprehensive document that covers virtually all spheres of the bilateral cooperation.
The joint action plan that for 2014-2016 to implement the Belarus-Kazakhstan economic cooperation program for 2009-2016 was signed after the talks between the two presidents on 4 October.
The joint statement made by the presidents instructs the two governments to take exhaustive measures to fulfill the plan as well as other agreements made at the top-level meeting. The co-chairmen of the intergovernmental commission have been put in charge of the general oversight of the joint work to achieve that goal.
Aleksandr Lukashenko and Nursultan Nazarbayev also signed a joint statement, in which they confirmed their unwavering intention to continue tightly coordinating the joint efforts aimed at advancing and expanding the Belarusian-Kazakh relations.
The presidents of Belarus and Kazakhstan confirmed the importance of strengthening strategic partnership, both meeting the interests of the people of the two countries and being an essential factor for securing stability and cooperation in the Eurasian region. The presidents emphasized the need for further coordination of efforts in the development of Eurasian integration and establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union designed to create favorable conditions for sustainable social and economic development in the Eurasian space.
The heads of state called upon the business circles to step up their investment efforts in Belarus and Kazakhstan and expressed their readiness to foster the mutually beneficial investment partnership.
Belarus and Kazakhstan agreed to boost cooperation in science and technology, exploration of outer space for peaceful purposes, the military and industrial sector.
The parties attach high importance to the establishment and development of the united transport system in the Eurasian space and creation of all necessary legal, economic and organizing conditions for unhampered and mutually beneficial freight and passenger transportation.
“The parties will continue regular political contacts at all levels, inter-parliamentary and ministerial cooperation, will keep assisting the expansion of the bilateral legal framework and creation of favorable conditions for more contacts between business, scientific, cultural and other circles of the two states,” the joint statement reads.
The sides will keep building their relations on the basis of large-scale cooperation and mutual trust, respect, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of state borders, peaceful resolution of disputes and non-use of force or intimidation, non-interference with the domestic affairs of each other, equality and mutual gain.
Belarus and Kazakhstan strongly condemn the use of economic pressure or coercion that undermines regional and global stability and security in line with the goals and principles of the UN Charter, considering the value of the diversity of development paths and recognizing the right of nations to determine their social and economic policy independently.
Belarus and Kazakhstan are going to be actively involved in collective efforts to strengthen security at all levels, including efforts to prevent and peacefully resolve international disputes and efforts to respond to challenges and threats, like international terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, cross-border organized crime, illegal production and trade in narcotic drugs, trafficking in human beings, natural and man-made disasters.
“The sides will keep expanding cooperation in foreign policy pushing for peace and security in the Eurasian space and the entire world. They pledge to keep providing mutual support to initiatives and candidates of the two countries at international organizations,” the document reads.
An intergovernmental agreement on readmission and a protocol to the agreement were also signed in the presence of the two presidents in addition to an agreement on the procedures that citizens of Belarus have to follow while staying in Kazakhstan and that citizens of Kazakhstan have to follow while staying in Belarus. The Belarusian side and the Kazakh one also signed an agreement on cooperation between the Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Belarus and the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
After the negotiations Aleksandr Lukashenko said that Belarus and Kazakhstan have outlined ways to raise the mutual trade turnover.
According to the Belarusian leader, the parties were concerned about the slight decrease in the bilateral trade. “The Kazakhstan president said it was the result of the ongoing global crisis. But I liked his remark that we cannot use this reason to justify the reduction of the trade turnover, we have outlined ways to raise the trade turnover in these complicated conditions. I am convinced that next year we will resolve the problem,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “We should put maximum efforts into resolving all the problems that hinder our effective interaction,” he added.
The Belarusian head of state remarked that the stronger integration of the three countries, the forthcoming establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union require tighter coordination and coherence of actions on the part of the governments and the business communities. “Only then will we be able to fully appreciate economic advantages of the common market,” the Belarusian President is convinced.
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, Belarus and Kazakhstan should step up the development of manufacturing cooperation and science and technology cooperation for the sake of replenishing the Single Economic Space market with domestic products, raising the competitive ability of the economies, and creating new jobs.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that the Belarusian side was ready to consider a more intensive transition to joint manufacturing projects with an investment component and to the establishment of long-term cooperation forms. He mentioned good examples of such cooperation involving BelAZ and the industrial group MTZ.
The Belarusian President invited Kazakhstan to implement joint projects in transport and logistics. In his words, more cooperation opportunities emerged in the industry after the establishment of the Single Economic Space. “Our joint plans include logistic centers to transport Belarusian and Kazakhstani goods to Europe and Asia,” the President said. “We are ready to construct logistics centers at the border with the European Union to store your commodities, especially grain that is meant for the European Union,” he added.
The Belarusian head of state congratulated Kazakhstan and Nursultan Nazarbayev on Astana’s election as the venue fpr the international forum Expo 2017. He said that Belarus is ready to take part in the construction of infrastructure for this major event.
Apart from that, Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that Belarus attaches much importance to the development of humanitarian cooperation and is glad that the Days of Culture of Kazakhstan will be held in Belarus in October 2013.
Nursultan Nazarbayev noted that the presidents had had very productive talks and had discussed the most important matters regarding the bilateral cooperation, and had discussed the progress in implementing the previous agreements.
The President of Kazakhstan said he was confident that the roadmap that had been signed to guide the development of the bilateral trade and economic cooperation in 2014-2016 will become an effective instrument to advance cooperation in this sphere.
Kazakhstan is also interested in stepping up cooperation in science, joint projects in other areas.
“We have neither political nor economic problems. We are allies and together we are building a new integration association. I hope that the future Eurasian Economic Union will profit interests of all the countries, will become an economic union of equals that will give us the capability to make the trade figures even larger,” Nursultan Nazarbayev stressed.
As part of the visit the Belarusian delegation visited the Kazakhstan-Belarus production and training center for engineers has opened at the S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University. Сo-chairman of the Belarus-Kazakhstan intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation, Vice Premier of Belarus Mikhail Rusy presented books about Belarus’ export potential as a gift from the Belarusian head of state.
“I’ve come here to check the fulfillment of our instructions that we gave to the governments and the ministers,” the Belarusian head of state said. The two presidents agreed to meet every year for this purpose.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that regular meetings between leaders of the two countries was a very correct practice and encourages responsible parties in Belarus and Kazakhstan to fulfill the tasks they are given.
The Belarus President remarked that the two nations have a lot in common and are accustomed to earning their own living. “As the presidents we try to build a solid foundation for future generations, for those, who will come after us. So that the policy we now pursue would become the foundation of their efforts. The fact that interests of our nations are the cornerstone of our mutual relations means a lot, there is no doubt, it will always be welcomed by new generations,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The President of Belarus stated that in the last few years the sides have managed to secure rather good results in manufacturing cooperation and research and technology cooperation. “It is the mutually beneficial cooperation that allows us to replenish the domestic market of the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space with our own products, raise the competitive ability of the economies, and create jobs,” believes the Belarusian leader. “At the same time ways to improve the effectiveness of newly established enterprises are pushed to the forefront. It is advisable to step up localization and expand the product choice in addition to starting the manufacturing of Belarusian-Kazakh products.”
According to the Belarus President, the establishment of a Kazakh-Belarusian center for training and retraining engineers at premises of the S.Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University is an important step. Apart from that, efforts are being put into the establishment of a Belarusian-Kazakh research to practice center for surgery and transplantology. “One can say the project is an example to follow and we should step up efforts to accomplish it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.
According to the Belarusian head of state, tight cooperation between research and education institutions in the development of joint innovative products becomes particularly important.
Cooperation in agribusiness seems increasingly vibrant, too. “Belarus has certain experience of setting up agro-towns in addition to achievements in the area of crop production and animal husbandry,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
The Belarusian side believes that cooperation in transportation is important. “For the sake of enabling equal conditions to develop a competitive market of automobile transportation services we should tear down the existing barriers and restrictions,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
Investment cooperation is a vital branch of the bilateral interaction. According to the Belarusian head of state, Belarus is interested in the presence of major Kazakh companies.
“We are interested in the presence of major Kazakh capital in Belarus. We are ready to back proposals on cooperation in various areas at the state level,” the Belarusian President remarked.
The President also sees a serious potential for an increase in mutual trade and investments via the development of interregional ties.
The Belarus President believes it is necessary to constantly seek new forms and avenues for partnership in most versatile fields. “Today it is a priority task for our governments,” he said.
As far as the participation of the two countries in integration structures, Belarus and Kazakhstan should utilize advantages of the Single Economic Space as much as possible in order to strengthen the mutually beneficial relations.
“Kazakhstan is a reliable friend and ally for us. Together we are building a unique formation in the post-Soviet space – the Eurasian Economic Union – that will give broader opportunities for developing our economies,” the President said.
“We have to utilize advantages of the Single Economic Space as much as possible in order to strengthen the mutually beneficial relations between our countries,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
According to the Belarusian head of state, the adoption of a bilateral trade and economic cooperation roadmap for 2014-2016 will contribute to reaching the goal. It is a comprehensive document that covers virtually all spheres of the bilateral cooperation.
The joint action plan that for 2014-2016 to implement the Belarus-Kazakhstan economic cooperation program for 2009-2016 was signed after the talks between the two presidents on 4 October.
The joint statement made by the presidents instructs the two governments to take exhaustive measures to fulfill the plan as well as other agreements made at the top-level meeting. The co-chairmen of the intergovernmental commission have been put in charge of the general oversight of the joint work to achieve that goal.
Aleksandr Lukashenko and Nursultan Nazarbayev also signed a joint statement, in which they confirmed their unwavering intention to continue tightly coordinating the joint efforts aimed at advancing and expanding the Belarusian-Kazakh relations.
The presidents of Belarus and Kazakhstan confirmed the importance of strengthening strategic partnership, both meeting the interests of the people of the two countries and being an essential factor for securing stability and cooperation in the Eurasian region. The presidents emphasized the need for further coordination of efforts in the development of Eurasian integration and establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union designed to create favorable conditions for sustainable social and economic development in the Eurasian space.
The heads of state called upon the business circles to step up their investment efforts in Belarus and Kazakhstan and expressed their readiness to foster the mutually beneficial investment partnership.
Belarus and Kazakhstan agreed to boost cooperation in science and technology, exploration of outer space for peaceful purposes, the military and industrial sector.
The parties attach high importance to the establishment and development of the united transport system in the Eurasian space and creation of all necessary legal, economic and organizing conditions for unhampered and mutually beneficial freight and passenger transportation.
“The parties will continue regular political contacts at all levels, inter-parliamentary and ministerial cooperation, will keep assisting the expansion of the bilateral legal framework and creation of favorable conditions for more contacts between business, scientific, cultural and other circles of the two states,” the joint statement reads.
The sides will keep building their relations on the basis of large-scale cooperation and mutual trust, respect, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of state borders, peaceful resolution of disputes and non-use of force or intimidation, non-interference with the domestic affairs of each other, equality and mutual gain.
Belarus and Kazakhstan strongly condemn the use of economic pressure or coercion that undermines regional and global stability and security in line with the goals and principles of the UN Charter, considering the value of the diversity of development paths and recognizing the right of nations to determine their social and economic policy independently.
Belarus and Kazakhstan are going to be actively involved in collective efforts to strengthen security at all levels, including efforts to prevent and peacefully resolve international disputes and efforts to respond to challenges and threats, like international terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, cross-border organized crime, illegal production and trade in narcotic drugs, trafficking in human beings, natural and man-made disasters.
“The sides will keep expanding cooperation in foreign policy pushing for peace and security in the Eurasian space and the entire world. They pledge to keep providing mutual support to initiatives and candidates of the two countries at international organizations,” the document reads.
An intergovernmental agreement on readmission and a protocol to the agreement were also signed in the presence of the two presidents in addition to an agreement on the procedures that citizens of Belarus have to follow while staying in Kazakhstan and that citizens of Kazakhstan have to follow while staying in Belarus. The Belarusian side and the Kazakh one also signed an agreement on cooperation between the Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Belarus and the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
After the negotiations Aleksandr Lukashenko said that Belarus and Kazakhstan have outlined ways to raise the mutual trade turnover.
According to the Belarusian leader, the parties were concerned about the slight decrease in the bilateral trade. “The Kazakhstan president said it was the result of the ongoing global crisis. But I liked his remark that we cannot use this reason to justify the reduction of the trade turnover, we have outlined ways to raise the trade turnover in these complicated conditions. I am convinced that next year we will resolve the problem,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “We should put maximum efforts into resolving all the problems that hinder our effective interaction,” he added.
The Belarusian head of state remarked that the stronger integration of the three countries, the forthcoming establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union require tighter coordination and coherence of actions on the part of the governments and the business communities. “Only then will we be able to fully appreciate economic advantages of the common market,” the Belarusian President is convinced.
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, Belarus and Kazakhstan should step up the development of manufacturing cooperation and science and technology cooperation for the sake of replenishing the Single Economic Space market with domestic products, raising the competitive ability of the economies, and creating new jobs.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that the Belarusian side was ready to consider a more intensive transition to joint manufacturing projects with an investment component and to the establishment of long-term cooperation forms. He mentioned good examples of such cooperation involving BelAZ and the industrial group MTZ.
The Belarusian President invited Kazakhstan to implement joint projects in transport and logistics. In his words, more cooperation opportunities emerged in the industry after the establishment of the Single Economic Space. “Our joint plans include logistic centers to transport Belarusian and Kazakhstani goods to Europe and Asia,” the President said. “We are ready to construct logistics centers at the border with the European Union to store your commodities, especially grain that is meant for the European Union,” he added.
The Belarusian head of state congratulated Kazakhstan and Nursultan Nazarbayev on Astana’s election as the venue fpr the international forum Expo 2017. He said that Belarus is ready to take part in the construction of infrastructure for this major event.
Apart from that, Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that Belarus attaches much importance to the development of humanitarian cooperation and is glad that the Days of Culture of Kazakhstan will be held in Belarus in October 2013.
Nursultan Nazarbayev noted that the presidents had had very productive talks and had discussed the most important matters regarding the bilateral cooperation, and had discussed the progress in implementing the previous agreements.
The President of Kazakhstan said he was confident that the roadmap that had been signed to guide the development of the bilateral trade and economic cooperation in 2014-2016 will become an effective instrument to advance cooperation in this sphere.
Kazakhstan is also interested in stepping up cooperation in science, joint projects in other areas.
“We have neither political nor economic problems. We are allies and together we are building a new integration association. I hope that the future Eurasian Economic Union will profit interests of all the countries, will become an economic union of equals that will give us the capability to make the trade figures even larger,” Nursultan Nazarbayev stressed.
As part of the visit the Belarusian delegation visited the Kazakhstan-Belarus production and training center for engineers has opened at the S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University. Сo-chairman of the Belarus-Kazakhstan intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation, Vice Premier of Belarus Mikhail Rusy presented books about Belarus’ export potential as a gift from the Belarusian head of state.