Events

MINSK, 9 June (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is planning to take part in the session of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Tashkent on 24 June. This will be the first top-level summit of this international organization for Belarus in a new observer status, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Vladimir Makei said in an interview with Russia’s news agency TASS, BelTA has learned.

“Given the serious interest of Belarus in strengthening cooperation with the SCO and a high level of representation of foreign delegations at the event, President Alexander Lukashenko will take part in the summit on Belarus’ behalf,” the minister said.

He remarked that at all previous summits the SCO member states spoke in favor of a broader involvement of observing countries in the practical cooperation in the organization. “Our objective is to take part in regular consultations and raise actual benefits from our cooperation in various fields. As for bilateral meetings, I would like to say that we have enough platforms and reasons for contacts with our partners in the CIS. Therefore, we are, first of all, planning out meetings with important Asian partners,” Vladimir Makei said.