MINSK, 8 August (BelTA) – Belarus and Japan need to expand the legal framework of the bilateral cooperation, Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich said as he met with head of the Japan-Belarus group of inter-parliamentary friendship, Chairman of the Special Committee for Regional Revitalization of the House of Representatives of the Japanese parliament Hiromichi Watanabe on 8 August, BelTA has learned.
“I would like to draw attention to the inadequate legal framework of our cooperation. We have virtually no basic agreements that could regulate trade, investments, taxation and many other key areas of the bilateral relations,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.
He noted that the Belarusian parliament is looking forward to signing agreements on trade and economic cooperation, mutual protection and promotion of investments, avoidance of double taxation. The documents are currently being scrutinized by the Japanese side.
“After the documents are returned to Belarus, our parliament will immediately get down to ratifying them,” Mikhail Myasnikovich assured.
He believes that if the two countries make the most of the opportunities provided by the parliamentary dimension, this will give an impetus to trade and economic contacts and humanitarian ties. “We are really interested in it. Groups of friendship are very instrumental for expanding inter-parliamentary contacts and overall the bilateral relations between our countries,” he emphasized.
Japan's parliamentary delegation is on a working visit to Belarus on 7-11 August. The program of the visit includes talks at the Agriculture and Food Ministry and the Healthcare Ministry of Belarus. Japanese MPs will visit the Belarusian companies Elema, Kommunarka and Game Stream company.
