Lukashenko appealed to Kazakhstan

Belarus and Kazakhstan should not lose each other. This was stated by Alexander Lukashenko at a meeting with Chairman of the Mazhilis of the Kazakh Parliament Yerlan Koshanov on February 5.

"I would ask you very much: we don't need to lose each other. No country, not even America, can develop independently of others today. Therefore, I suggest to you: let's not lose each other in this frenzied world." — He said.

Speaking about the Central Asian region, Lukashenko noted that "we know whose eyes are fixed on this part of our planet."

"But as an experienced person, I always tell and advise my colleagues, we understand that it is very difficult to find friends on the side today. Even if Kazakhstan or Belarus find them, it is not necessary to lose old friends. Therefore, based on this philosophy, we are ready to cooperate with you in any direction and in any form… As I always say, the basis is trading. And I must say that I once dreamed that Kazakhstan and I would come close to $1 billion in trade turnover. Today we already have, according to estimates, a billion and more. But there is a lot to strive for. We have a high-tech country. We are ready to supply you not only goods. They are known. We know what goods Kazakhstan needs. But if for the long term, then we We are ready to open joint production facilities with Kazakhstanis, work together and move in this direction," Lukashenko said.

Alexander Lukashenko also noted that Belarus produces more than half as many goods in all directions as can be consumed on the domestic market. The rest of the country is ready to export, including to Kazakhstan.

"We are a machine-building country, we have a highly developed agriculture. This is what Kazakhstan needs. After all, I also know Kazakhstan very well since Soviet times. I studied a lot there," the Belarusian leader noted.

In addition, Lukashenko noted that Minsk and Astana have the same views on the development of the world.

"As for the international agenda and our approaches and views, in my opinion, there is absolutely no difference here. We see the development of our world in the same way. We are supporters of multipolarity. We want the new countries that were formed, including after the collapse of the Union, to be sovereign and independent. You know this very well, including your President," he said.

Lukashenko noted the assistance that Kazakhstan has provided to the Belarusian side in joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a full member.

"You've helped us a lot. First of all, I addressed my friends in Kazakhstan. They not only supported us, but also helped in working with other countries so that such support could be provided.… We are very grateful to you, and we remember perfectly well that both Kazakhstan and Belarus are members of a number of international organizations. Regional, starting from the EAEU, the CSTO, the CIS. And ending with a global international organization — the UN. We are present together where we need to be, where our interests are concentrated. This indicates the same approaches to solving various global and regional problems," the President of Belarus noted.

Lukashenko also believes that it is necessary to push and accelerate the development of interregional cooperation between the two countries. He noted that parliamentarians, among others, are engaged in the development of relations between the regions in both countries. Moreover, Belarus and Kazakhstan are preparing to hold a thematic forum on interregional cooperation. Alexander Lukashenko generally supported this idea and drew attention to the fact that Belarus and Russia have experience in holding similar forums. Kazakhstan and Russia. According to him, it is necessary to push interregional cooperation. He also suggested more actively involving the leaders of the local vertical of both countries to intensify ties at the regional level.

"Both our governors and yours have decent powers. It is necessary to weave them into this process... the governors of you and us are the central figures. Anyway, a lot depends on them, especially in your country with such a huge territory. Therefore, we need to speed up this process somehow, develop it and not be afraid that this middle has begun to cooperate. Then it will be easier for us," the Belarusian leader said.

Minsk has been actively developing cooperation with friendly countries of the post-Soviet space in recent years. Kazakhstan, as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, is presented to the Belarusian side as one of the most promising partners in the Asian direction.