MINSK, 24 February (BelTA) - Belarus intends to expand cooperation with Cuba in pharmaceuticals, tourism and sport, Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Petrishenko said as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Cuba to Belarus Santiago Perez Benitez in Minsk on 24 February, BelTA learned.
“We would like to see our cooperation develop and our trade grow. At the very least, we should reach the figures that we had two to three years ago. Then the trade started to slow down a little bit. Therefore, we need to outline ways to develop cooperation in order to raise the level of our trade relations to a higher level in absolute figures,” Igor Petrishenko said.
He also emphasized that Belarus and Cuba are united by strategic partnership. “We traditionally support each other in international organizations. We are grateful to the Cuban side for supporting Belarus' initiatives in the UN. We are very pleased that Cuba plays a very active role as an observer state within the Eurasian Economic Union. Belarus is currently chairing the EAEU, and your active role is very important for us. We would like to see Cuba to continue to step up its interaction with the EAEU. We are also happy to note that Cuba has received the status of a BRICS partner state. We attach great importance to this organization and to multilateral diplomacy,” Igor Petrishenko stressed.
The parties discussed in detail the agreements reached during the visit of Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko to Cuba in July 2024.
“These agreements are primarily about social matters, about cooperation in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, science, sports and tourism. You are accompanied by a representative delegation that is ready to discuss matters of pharmaceuticals. This is a very important topic for us. We are aware of your expertise. Your approach to fighting COVID-19 has reaffirmed this. We do not just engage in trade in pharmaceutical products, but we have already achieved significant progress and established a joint pharmaceutical enterprise. There should be more such cooperation projects. We are also interested in Belarusian pharmaceuticals gaining a foothold in the Cuban market. They are competitive in terms of both quality and price,” the vice premier stated.
Belarus is also keen to cooperate with Cuba in science, education, biotechnology, bioorganic chemistry, and veterinary medicine.
Igor Petrishenko remarked that special attention is paid to the development of tourism. It is important that not only Belarusians travel to Cuba, but also Cubans visit Belarus more often.
“We see great potential for the development of cooperation in sport. We know how Cuba promotes sport. We are also a sporting nation. It is very important for us to intensify cooperation in this area,” he added.
“We would like to see our cooperation develop and our trade grow. At the very least, we should reach the figures that we had two to three years ago. Then the trade started to slow down a little bit. Therefore, we need to outline ways to develop cooperation in order to raise the level of our trade relations to a higher level in absolute figures,” Igor Petrishenko said.
He also emphasized that Belarus and Cuba are united by strategic partnership. “We traditionally support each other in international organizations. We are grateful to the Cuban side for supporting Belarus' initiatives in the UN. We are very pleased that Cuba plays a very active role as an observer state within the Eurasian Economic Union. Belarus is currently chairing the EAEU, and your active role is very important for us. We would like to see Cuba to continue to step up its interaction with the EAEU. We are also happy to note that Cuba has received the status of a BRICS partner state. We attach great importance to this organization and to multilateral diplomacy,” Igor Petrishenko stressed.
The parties discussed in detail the agreements reached during the visit of Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko to Cuba in July 2024.
“These agreements are primarily about social matters, about cooperation in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, science, sports and tourism. You are accompanied by a representative delegation that is ready to discuss matters of pharmaceuticals. This is a very important topic for us. We are aware of your expertise. Your approach to fighting COVID-19 has reaffirmed this. We do not just engage in trade in pharmaceutical products, but we have already achieved significant progress and established a joint pharmaceutical enterprise. There should be more such cooperation projects. We are also interested in Belarusian pharmaceuticals gaining a foothold in the Cuban market. They are competitive in terms of both quality and price,” the vice premier stated.
Belarus is also keen to cooperate with Cuba in science, education, biotechnology, bioorganic chemistry, and veterinary medicine.
Igor Petrishenko remarked that special attention is paid to the development of tourism. It is important that not only Belarusians travel to Cuba, but also Cubans visit Belarus more often.
“We see great potential for the development of cooperation in sport. We know how Cuba promotes sport. We are also a sporting nation. It is very important for us to intensify cooperation in this area,” he added.
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