MINSK, 30 August (BelTA) - The situation in Afghanistan will be one of the important topics of the upcoming summits of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Belarus has an observer status in the organization) in Dushanbe in mid-September, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tajikistan to Belarus Mahmadsharif Haqdod told reporters following the meeting with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko in Minsk on 30 August, BelTA has learned.
“The president gave a high approval of our bilateral relations, which have been continuously developing in the political, trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other avenues. The situation in Afghanistan that will be discussed at the CSTO and the SCO summits was also on the agenda," the diplomat said. According to the ambassador, the leaders of the countries confirmed their participation in the face-to-face format.
"Naturally, we discussed the difficult situation that is associated with Afghanistan. Aleksandr Grigorievich is intimately familiar with the situation that is developing in the region. Of course, he expressed words of support to Tajikistan. Concerns regarding the situation in Afghanistan were also expressed,” Ambassador Mahmadsharif Haqdod said.
The legal framework for Belarus-Tajikistan cooperation includes more than 60 interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental international agreements. The countries constructively cooperate in international organizations, and provide mutual support on key issues.
In 2020, bilateral trade amounted to $111.7 million (3 times up from 2019), including exports - $109.6 million (3.3 times up). Trade in services totaled $4.2 million, with Belarus posting a trade surplus of $3.2 million.
Exports to Tajikistan included automobiles, tractors and truck tractors, petroleum products, and sugar. Belarus imported cotton yarn, unbleached cotton fiber, and dried fruit from Tajikistan.
In January-June 2021, mutual trade reached $82 million (107.6% compared to January-June 2020), exports rose to $80.4 million (108.3%) and imports made up $1.6 million (77.8%).
Tajikistan is home to more than 20 entities of the commodity distribution network and dealers of Belarusian enterprises. MTZ tractors and Bobruiskagromash trailers are assembled at Agrotekhservice (Gissar District).
