MINSK, 18 May (BelTA) – It is important for the MPs of Belarus and Ecuador to assist the development of interregional cooperation, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko said as he met with Ecuador's Minister of Foreign Affairs Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces on 18 May, BelTA has learned.
According to the speaker, MPs could cooperate more actively in sharing lawmaking experience. He also stated that it is important to cooperate at the interregional level, in tourism and education. In 2016 President of the National Assembly of Ecuador Gabriela Rivadeneira Burbano paid an official visit to Belarus. An agreement on cooperation was signed between the two parliaments. Vladimir Andreichenko stated that then a legal framework was developed for cooperation. Parliamentary groups of friendship play an important role in its further development. “In order to step up our cooperation in general, we need to intensify their work,” he said.
Belarus attaches great significance to the development of relations with Ecuador. The bilateral agenda has no problem issues that could hinder the expansion of cooperation. “Moreover, we have a huge untapped potential. We are open to cooperation in every area of mutual interest,” Vladimir Andreichenko said. The speaker emphasized that the two countries have already made considerable headway in trade and economic cooperation. In 2017, the mutual trade doubled. There are also positive trends in 2018.
Belarus and Ecuador have been fruitfully cooperating in the international arena, providing mutual assistance to each other. “We need to do much more, and MPs should make a considerable contribution to the development of bilateral cooperation,” Vladimir Andreichenko said.
In turn, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces stressed that Belarus and Ecuador highlight the development of bilateral relations. In 2018 the two states are marking 25 years of diplomatic relations. Over the time the two countries have made great progress in trade, education, technologies, mutual investment. The minister took note of Belarus' contribution to the development of Ecuador's oil sector. “We have reached the moment when we can assess the achievements and outline the prospects. Ecuador is interested in developing cooperation via the expansion of the agreement with the EAEU,” said Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces.
Photo courtesy of the House of Representatives
