Events

MINSK, 10 December (BelTA) - Sudan and Belarus pledge to expand cooperation in order to improve bilateral relations and strengthen partnership, reads a joint statement of the two presidents Alexander Lukashenko and Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir following the official talks in Minsk on 10 December, BelTA has learned.

The parties agreed to provide mutual support within the framework of international organizations, including the UN and the Non-Aligned Movement, in accordance with international initiatives to respond to present-day threats and challenges. The parties welcomed the intensive interaction at all levels and stressed the important role of the Belarusian-Sudanese joint commission on cooperation in developing the measures to expand bilateral cooperation and coordinate joint efforts in their implementation.

Alexander Lukashenko and Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir reiterated the importance of developing trade and economic relations, cooperation in the industrial field, manufacture of engineering goods and agricultural products.

In order to improve the industrial base of Sudan, a multi-purpose plant to assemble BELARUS tractors, MAZ trucks and Gomselmash farm machines will be set up in Sudan. As part of this project, Belarus shall train Sudanese professionals and transfer the relevant technologies to Sudan. Joint measures will be taken to localize the production.

In turn, the government of Sudan shall take the necessary measures to support this project.

The Sudanese government will provide assistance to complete procedures on setting up joint companies to manufacture meat and dairy products, animal fodder, to grow vegetables and seedlings under Belarusian technologies.

The leaders of the two countries praised the progress in the implementation of the gold mining project by the Belarusian side. The parties also agreed to take the necessary steps to ensure the implementation of projects in the energy and oil sector of Sudan.

The parties also emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in education, including the development of mechanisms to attract and send Sudanese citizens to study at Belarusian educational institutions, encourage student exchanges, and set up joint departments in top priority majors.

The Sudanese president expressed gratitude to the Belarusian leader and people for a warm welcome and hospitality and invited Alexander Lukashenko to visit Sudan.

A number of agreements to boost cooperation were signed in the presence of the presidents. They included an intergovernmental agreement on the abolition of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and service passports, an intergovernmental agreement to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion with respect to taxes on income. The parties also signed an intergovernmental agreement to share information in taxation, an agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, on mutual legal assistance in civil and economic matters, and an intergovernmental agreement on extradition. The parties also signed a memorandum on industrial cooperation and concluded several specific agreements on the supply of farming equipment.

The two states also signed an agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs affairs and a protocol to exchange ratification notes on the agreement on friendly relations and cooperation between Belarus and Sudan.