MINSK, 21 August (BelTA) – In the course of advancing cooperation Belarus and Myanmar have secured substantial progress in all the key avenues. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the relevant statement as a result of expanded negotiations with Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing in Minsk on 21 August, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “An intensive dialogue at the top level has helped Minsk and Naypyidaw secure substantial progress in all the key avenues recently. The most important step was the opening of the embassies of the two countries this year. It is supposed to help keep up the pace of the joint work that we have set. Naturally, economy is the key priority. A number of joint bodies are working on accomplishing this task. The main one is the intergovernmental committee on trade and economic cooperation.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that the key areas for joint efforts are stipulated by the roadmap designed to guide Belarus-Myanmar cooperation in 2026-2028. “We will primarily focus attention on manufacturing sector, agriculture, pharmaceutics, science, and education. We have agreed on a number of steps in order to advance key joint projects to the stage of practical implementation next year. It must be done without fail,” the president stated.

As a result of the negotiations Belarus and Myanmar have reinforced the legal base of the partnership and have agreed to step up work in the field of humanitarian affairs. “We will increase the number of Myanmar university students, who are taught popular specialties in Belarus. Direct ties between higher education institutions of our countries will help with that,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

He spoke in positive terms about the invigoration of Belarus-Myanmar contacts between the parliaments and political parties, business circles and scientific communities, public organizations. “Without a doubt, such contacts will contribute to deeper cooperation across the board and to searching for new promising topics.”

The agreement on waiving visa requirements has come into force and will provide an additional impulse to the development of bilateral contacts, business ties, and tourism ties.

“We have a huge amount of work ahead of us to realize the mutually beneficial agreements we have reached,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

Aleksandr Lukashenko thanked Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing for the substantive conversation and the never changing personal commitment to advancing relations with Belarus. “All the agreements that have been reached as a result of your visit will be fulfilled in full without red tape and foot-dragging,” the Belarusian head of state assured.