MINSK, 20 April (BelTA) - The current sanctions pressure should be considered as a new window of opportunity, Director of the Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research (BISR) Oleg Makarov said during the international round table “Guangzhou-Minsk: Facing the Future with Confidence”, BelTA has learned.
“Not having had time to recover from the pandemic, we have got into a new turbulence – political one. This has drawn an even greater ‘watershed' between East and West. Belarus has found itself under even greater external pressure. Therefore, today we are in a situation of restructuring our economic sector, foreign trade routes, psychology, as well as in a large-scale process of turning to the East. Of course, the world will never be the same again. But we hope that it will be benevolent to us, and life will open new horizons,” said Oleg Makarov.
According to him, Belarus has entered a new stage of interaction with its partners in the east and south. “This situation is forced. It is the result of pressure on Belarus from Western countries. Nevertheless, we are guided by the proverb ‘a blessing in disguise'. For this reason we are trying to find options and benefits, to find our place in the new world, in the new relations. I believe this approach is also close to the People's Republic of China. It is not for nothing that the word ‘crisis' in Chinese signifies both danger and opportunity. We also see the current situation as a new window of opportunity,” the BISR director said.
According to Oleg Makarov, the interaction between Belarus and China will make it possible to outline specific solutions to the current situation and find new niches and approaches, which will be transformed in specific actions, commodity trade, business cooperation, education and culture.
“I believe it is time for strategic analytics. It is time to project the future, because it will be very difficult for managers to make decisions without such support. It is also time for expert diplomacy, when it is experts and specialists who pave the way that may not be so clear and accessible to civil servants and diplomats,” the BISR director added.
“Surely, Chinese partners are thinking about how Belarus will behave under sanctions. I emphasize that there are basic and immutable things. First, it is an iron brotherhood. Secondly, the extensive experience of import substitution, which has been accumulated and exists in our country. Thirdly, a well-developed system of manufacturing and agricultural production. All other things that are associated with logistics, finance and so on have to be adjusted, of course,” Oleg Makarov said.
He stressed that today is the time of quick decisions, quick communication. “Our economy and our relations need quick solutions. In particular, the BISR is ready for non-standard solutions in these difficult times,” the director said.
The Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research in cooperation with Guangzhou office in Minsk held an international round table “Guangzhou-Minsk: Facing the Future with Confidence” as part of the series of events “Belarus and China: Common Development Trajectory”, timed to the Year of Regions of Belarus and China. The participants discussed Belarusian-Chinese cooperation, the current international situation and its impact on both countries. The purpose of the round table was to discuss and analyze theoretical and practical issues aimed at further development and harmonization of interaction between Belarus and China.
