Events

Belarus, UK seek to deepen ties

Jacqueline Perkins and Natalya Kochanova

MINSK, 24 January (BelTA) – Belarus and the United Kingdom are determined to scale up cooperation in all the areas. The matter was discussed at the meeting between Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Belarus Jacqueline Perkins and Chair of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly Natalya Kochanova on 24 January, BelTA has learned.

Natalya Kochanova noted that Belarus and Great Britain are building closer ties and  intensifying a political dialogue. “We will try our best to boost cooperation in absolutely all the areas,” the speaker said talking about interparliamentary contacts. “MPs can do a lot; they can give a significant boost to political and economic cooperation,” she added.

The United Kingdom is among most important trade and economic partners of Belarus. Great Britain ranks second in terms of foreign direct investment in the Belarusian economy. Belarus is home to 211 companies with British capital. “Our cooperation holds a lot of promise,” Natalya Kochanova believes. After all, the two states have similar priorities in the economic and social fields and invest tremendous effort in promoting healthcare, education and protection of human rights.

Natalya Kochanova recalled the support provided by the United Kingdom to Belarus after the Chernobyl disaster. The UK ran recuperation programs for Belarusian kids coming from the regions affected by the Chernobyl accident. That was a great boost to humanitarian contacts. “Our relations have a future. We are happy about it and we believe that we will be able to deepen our ties, including thanks to the efforts of the ambassador,” the speaker said.

Jacqueline Perkins pointed out that cooperation between Belarus and the UK is developing incrementally. Bilateral cooperation is facilitated by the exchange of contacts. The ambassador promised to help bring British MPs to Minsk in the near future.

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