MINSK, 27 September (BelTA) – Belarus and Kazakhstan have a great potential for economic cooperation, Director of the Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research (BISR) Oleg Makarov told a BelTA correspondent.
On 27 September BISR is hosting a round table “Kazakhstan and Belarus: The path of friendship and cooperation”.
According to Oleg Makarov, cooperation between Belarus and Kazakhstan is gaining momentum. “First, our trade is growing. It was $1 billion in 2021 and there are plans to double it. Second, we are working to increase our presence in Asia as we consider Asia one of our foreign policy priorities. And Kazakhstan can be viewed as an entry point or our major partner with which we would like to promote cultural communication and economic contacts. And third, we stick to similar positions and views regarding sovereignty, national development, strong presidential power, constitutional reforms (we have similar processes in lawmaking underway), economic development and national interests. Kazakhstan has made a point in the international arena, and we would like to hear what it has to say,” Oleg Makarov said.
Moreover, the two countries actively cooperate not only in a bilateral format, but also as part of regional integration associations. “Now we have our eyes set on the SCO, this is an interesting area of activity. Also the CSTO, the CIS, those regional organizations where we can be useful to each other,” the BISR director noted.
