Maiden trip: Pakistan, Belarus sign second set of agreements

PM Nawaz meets President Lukashenko

MINSK:

Pakistan and Belarus on Monday inked a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to strengthen their multifaceted ties particularly in the areas of trade, commerce, education and culture.

The agreements were signed at the Presidential Palace following a round of delegation level talks and an exclusive one-on-one meeting of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with President Alexander Lukashenko.

Read: Pakistan, Belarus sign 14 MoUs

The two leaders witnessed the signing. It was the second round of agreements signed between the two countries, the first being done in May at Islamabad, where 20 documents were inked.

The earlier agreements dealt with cooperation in economic areas, military and technical cooperation, interaction in science and technology, information and telecommunications, while President Lukashenko and Premier Nawaz had also signed Islamabad declaration of Belarus-Pakistan partnership.

The other document inked was Memorandum of Cooperation for Translation and Publication of Classical Literary Works of Pakistan and Belarus.

The two leaders also agreed on forging closer ties in the areas of trade, defence, education and culture as they inked another set of agreements in a short span of over two months.

PM Nawaz, who earlier flew into the picturesque capital of this eastern European country on a three-day official visit, held exclusive talks and a round of delegation-level meetings.

He said that Pakistan was keen to forge closer ties with Belarus in all fields, including trade, economic, defence, and culture. “There is great scope for increasing economic relations in the fields of textile, heavy vehicles, agricultural equipment, heavy machinery, pharmaceuticals and dairy products.”

During the talks held at the Presidential Palace, both the sides noted that they share commonality of views on various regional and international issues.

Read: Pakistan, Belarus agree on joint ventures

Diplomatic sources said the exchanges between PM Nawaz and President Lukashenko took place in extremely warm, cordial and friendly atmosphere. The two sides expressed satisfaction over the visible growth and development in bilateral ties.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2015.