Meeting with Cuba President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez

The meeting between Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and Cuba President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez took place in the Palace of Independence in Minsk on 25 June.

The President of Cuba brought a big delegation with him. Belarus was represented by ministers, heads of government agencies and organizations.

The meeting of the heads of state began with a formal greeting and a photo ceremony - this is a mandatory element of official visits at the highest level.

Aleksandr Lukashenko and Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez mapped out plans to step up bilateral interaction with a focus on advancing cooperation in trade, economy, science, and technology.

The head of state remarked that his previous meeting with the Cuban leader took place in Moscow on 9 May, during celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. At that time, the parties agreed to continue their dialogue. This is Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez’s second official visit to Belarus.

“We will discuss the most important matters of Belarus-Cuba cooperation and the international agenda. Certainly, we also remember that one of the goals of your visit is to participate in the Eurasian Economic Forum and a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. Nowadays, the world is experiencing a period of significant turbulence. While the existing international organizations are lagging behind, the new ones still lack the capacity to resolve crises, let alone prevent them. This is something we must work on together,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.

The head of state emphasized strong friendly ties between the Belarusian and Cuban peoples, which are supported by excellent relations at the level of the leadership of the two countries.

“In the person of my esteemed colleague Miguel Diaz-Canel, we have found a true friend of the Belarusian people. I am sure that the friendly, allied nature of the interstate dialogue will remain for many years to come, and new generations of Belarusians and Cubans will support it and fill it with relevant content,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The head of state praised the constructive cooperation between Belarus and Cuba on the international stage, describing it as a good tradition. According to him, the countries hold similar views on key issues on the modern global agenda and provide each other with unwavering support.

“We unanimously and consistently oppose unilateral restrictive measures in international politics and trade. The illegal sanctions pressure on our countries is not reducing: it is intensifying. This is especially true in the area of financial transactions. But these negative external factors only encourage us to work together to find effective solutions,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.

It was noted during the talks that Belarus-Cuba commission on trade and economic cooperation had established a schedule of regular, annual meetings. This shows mutual interest in deepening bilateral interaction.

It was noted during the talks that Belarus-Cuba commission on trade and economic cooperation had established a schedule of regular, annual meetings. This shows mutual interest in deepening bilateral interaction.

“Taking into consideration the complementarity of the economies of Belarus and Cuba, our experts have identified a number of promising points of growth in trade and economy. They include areas that are strategically important for Havana: food security, industrial modernization, development of the construction industry, transport infrastructure, energy and mining sectors, as well as access to high-quality medicines,” the head of state said.

Belarus also sees good prospects to ramp up joint production of agricultural machinery, trailers and attachments.

“We are ready to supply new equipment, including with the use of leasing instruments. We can offer engines, spare parts, as well as machine tools and equipment for Cuban repair enterprises. In addition to industrial cooperation, we could supply Belarusian raw materials, share our best practices and technologies for the joint production of dairy and meat products,” noted Aleksandr Lukashenko.

According to the President, export loans of the Development Bank of Belarus that are used to support the supply of Belarusian products to Cuba have proved to be relevant and important. Today, dry milk and agricultural machinery are sold using this scheme, but the Belarusian side is interested in consistently expanding the list of products that can be sold using this scheme.

“I am sure that following today's meeting we will develop effective solutions and will be consistently implementing them. Minsk and Havana have everything in place to move forward: political will, mutual understanding, absolute support of the heads of state. And, perhaps, most importantly - a long history of cooperation. I assure you that I have not forgotten about the promise to visit Cuba. I will try to do it in the future. I am going to come to your country that is warm and sunny in every sense of the word, and even very hot,” said the Belarusian leader.

Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that Belarus is committed to an open and candid dialogue. It is ready to work together to maintain social and economic stability in the two states and raise the living standards of the population. “You should know that we are your friends. Even more than friends. And if we can do something for the Cuban people, for Cuba, we will definitely do it,” the head of state concluded.

First of all, the President of Cuba thanked the Belarusian leader for the invitation to visit Minsk and take part in the Eurasian Economic Forum and the EAEU summit. He also conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from Raul Castro. Taking the opportunity, he congratulated Aleksandr Lukashenko on his victory in the Presidential election. “It showed high authority and mass support for your activities,” he said, addressing the Belarusian head of state.

Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez emphasized the personal contribution of the President of Belarus to the development of bilateral relations and his personal involvement in the search for joint solutions for the benefit of both countries.

“Our bilateral relations have deep historical roots of friendship and cooperation, based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. These are relations between kin peoples and governments,” the Cuban President said. “Cuba has the political will to give them momentum in all areas, especially in the trade and economic sector.”

According to him, the current meeting is a logical continuation of the fruitful exchanges of visits of the prime ministers of the two countries. Cooperation between parliaments is also actively developing. Cuba is looking forward to welcome Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Natalya Kochanova for a visit.

“I believe that the exchange of visits let us identify potential areas for deepening trade and economic ties, as well as outline new joint projects,” Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez said. For example, a project to assemble MTZ tractors has been launched in Cuba, and there are plans to launch a joint venture in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals in the near future.

The President of Cuba praised effective work of the joint intergovernmental commission on cooperation in trade, economy, science and technology.

“We can say that there is modest progress in trade and economic relations, and we must continue to give them momentum,” he said. According to him, cooperation in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals has a special potential. There are 46 Belarusian pharmaceuticals registered in Cuba. The possibility of launching joint production of oncological and immunological drugs in the Vitebsk Oblast is under consideration.

“We are interested in stimulating and encouraging trade in goods,” Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez said. “We want Belarusian companies to participate more in the implementation of Cuba's National Plan for Economic and Social Development until 2030.

During the meeting with mass media representatives after the talks Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed gratitude to the President of Cuba for finding the opportunity to visit Belarus and personally take part in the upcoming meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

“We discussed a wide range of bilateral issues with Miguel [Diaz-Canel Bermudez] and outlined further steps to develop the most promising areas of cooperation. We also focused on the complex geopolitical situation. Belarus and Cuba reaffirmed their commitment to a policy of promoting peace and security in the world and to the continued development of a fair and multipolar world,” the Belarusian leader said.

The parties are convinced that the free and independent development of all countries and peoples, their true equality and the protection of national interests can be ensured only in this way.

“Belarus itself has experienced illegal restrictive measures by certain unfriendly states. It views the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba as unacceptable and causing irreparable damage to the Cuban people.”

For many decades, Cuba has remained a reliable ally of Belarus in the Western Hemisphere, the Belarusian head of state said.

“Our relations are based on mutual respect and equality, comprehensive support in key issues for both countries, including within the framework of international organizations,” he said.

“In order to make the most of bilateral cooperation, our trade and economic ties should be as advanced as our political contacts. And we will make this happen. The President of Cuba has just proposed a simple, clear formula. He believes that we should stop importing what we can produce, including what we can make together. He has suggested setting up joint ventures in Belarus and Cuba. A great idea! This is a good solution that we need to materialize in the near future,” said the Belarusian leader.

Goods and services are not the only thing that Belarus can offer to Cuba.  Belarus is interested in a comprehensive and strategic partnership cutting across all mutually beneficial areas of cooperation.

“We are ready to introduce advanced scientific solutions and technologies into the Cuban economy in order to implement joint projects that will deliver long-term economic and social benefits (this is important for Cuba and for us). We are already running such projects in Cuba. These are projects in manufacturing, pharmaceutics, agriculture and food. A factory to assemble tractors, mounted equipment and trailers has been set up,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said citing several examples.

According to the head of state, the joint venture to manufacture Belarusian medicines will launch a production line in the near future. The company’s output is to be sold on the Cuban market and in the Caribbean countries.

A number of projects to make dairy products using Belarusian technologies and raw materials are also in the works. “We would like these high-quality, healthy products to become available to Cubans and people living in the neighboring regions,” the President said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko is confident that closer cooperation in the above-mentioned areas will help boost food security and raise the living standards of citizens of Belarus and Cuba.

“We will definitely fulfill all the plans and agreements that we have reached,” the Belarusian leader assured.

“Belarus and its people are the nation and country that Cuba and the Cuban people admire,” Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez said.

He emphasized the sensitivity, understanding and will to help from Belarus and the country’s leadership, to cooperate together with Cuba amid a complicated situation the country is experiencing.