Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki

There is a need to raise the bar in the trade and economic cooperation with Poland, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Mateusz Morawiecki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Finance of Poland, on 24 October.

The head of state noted that Belarus and Poland have a certain trade level. “We have not lost contacts in the economy and politics. However, it is essential to raise the bar to a very high level. If we want to advance relations with our closest neighbor, we need to create the foundation of these relations. It is only the economy that can be this foundation,” the President said.

The head of state noted that the Belarusian side is interested in setting up joint ventures with Poland and is ready to provide necessary assistance.

At the same time, he said, there are a few issues of concern in the economic cooperation. “I think that during the session of the joint commission you will discuss them and outline the ways to eliminate them, to coordinate our positions,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “If we are wrong in certain aspects, we would like Poland and the EU in general to provide certain undeniable facts which would be difficult to defy. I mean the antidumping case and other issues.”

“You are a professional, and it makes to sense to explain to you all kinds of bickering that we see on the part of the two sides over customs procedures and mutual trade. Every state will always find a response to any sanctions. I am convinced that we do not need this,” the Belarusian leader remarked.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that the current situation also has an impact on the economy of Poland, especially in view of Russia’s embargo and economic difficulties in neighboring countries, first of all, in Ukraine. “Therefore, it makes absolutely no sense to create new obstacles in the economy. We are prepared for the comprehensive development of relations with the country that is very close to us,” the head of state emphasized.

“Speaking about the current level of cooperation, the countries have begun to establish closer relations. I think that it will depend on your country and its position rather than on Belarus. You are aware of our willingness to improve relations not only with all our neighbors but also with Western Europe, the EU in general,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Mateusz Morawiecki, for his part, agreed that the trade and economic cooperation is a good foundation for the development of cooperation in other fields. He expressed readiness to discuss topical issues in the development of the economic cooperation and find necessary solutions. The Polish vice premier also noted that the development of cooperation with Belarus is one of the priorities for the government.

In his words, there are good prospects in setting up joint enterprises, in the banking sector, protection of the cultural heritage.