DUSHANBE, 11 October (BelTA) – Belarus will send a draft agreement on strategic partnership to Tajikistan soon. Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Rumas made the statement as he met with Prime Minister of Tajikistan Qohir Rasulzoda in Dushanbe on 11 October, BelTA has learned.
According to Sergei Rumas, an agreement on strategic partnership between Belarus and Tajikistan is in development. The draft agreement will be forwarded to Tajikistan for perusal soon.
Sergei Rumas pointed out that top-level contacts between Belarus and Tajikistan are extremely intensive. The Tajikistan president visited Belarus in 2017. The Belarus president visited Tajikistan twice in 2018. “A number of important documents were signed. It adds responsibility to the governments, which have to fulfill all the agreements,” he noted.
Qohir Rasulzoda also stated that the sides had stepped up cooperation virtually across the board. This year's visits of the Belarusian head of state gave an even larger impulse to cooperation, important bilateral documents were signed. According to Qohir Rasulzoda, a very solid legal base – over 100 documents and agreements – has been prepared for advancing Belarus-Tajikistan relations. “This is why we have all the opportunities for working more effectively and fulfilling the tasks our presidents give us,” believes Qohir Rasulzoda.
According to Tajikistan's statistics, in January-July 2018 Belarus was one of Tajikistan's top 20 trade partners. Belarus-Tajikistan trade totaled $21.5 million in January-July 2018, 8.6% down from the same period of last year. Belarus secured a foreign trade surplus of $18.3 million. Foreign trade in services amounted to $2.3 million, 2% up from January-July 2017.
In January-July 2018 Belarus' main exports to Tajikistan were tractors and truck tractors, sugar, carpets and floor coatings, polyacetal and polyether, other oil products, tires, refrigerators, freezers, and other goods. From Tajikistan Belarus imported cotton yarn and cotton fiber, dried fruits, nuts.
