Opinions & Interviews

Ambassador: Belarus has learned to defeat coronavirus

An archive photo

MOSCOW, 9 June (BelTA) – Belarus has learned to live with the pandemic and to fight the virus using immunization and safety measures, Belarus’ Ambassador to Russia Vladimir Semashko said at the Belarus-Asia Forum in Moscow on 9 June, BelTA has learned.

“The pandemic has divided our timeline into pre and post COVID eras. Not a single economy has been able to avoid losses, almost all countries of the world saw a decline in GDP last year,” Vladimir Semashko said.

The ambassador emphasized that being a country where 70% of GDP is generated by export, Belarus strives to restore and intensify cooperation. “However, we have learned to live and fight with the coronavirus thanks to vaccination and preventive measures. Belarus is the first country after Russia to officially register Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine and to start mass vaccination with this vaccine. In October this year, Belarus’ biggest pharmaceutical company Belmedpreparaty will launch a full-cycle production of this vaccine using Russian technology - from growing to bottling,” the diplomat said.

He went on saying that in 2021 the Belarusian economy bounced back and its GDP grew 2.5% in January-April. This is a good result,” he said.

Vladimir Semashko added that the Belarusian economy is projected to grow at least 2% this year. “Exports should become one of the drivers of economic revival,” he noted.

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