MINSK, 8 September (BelTA) – Chairwoman of the Economy, Budget, and Finance Commission of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Tatiana Runets met with Speaker of the Senate of the Uzbek Parliament Tanzila Narbayeva within the framework of the Inter-Parliamentary Union's 14th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 8 September, the press service of the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament told BelTA.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Uzbekistan Leonid Marinich also took part in the meeting. A broad range of matters of bilateral cooperation in trade, economy, and social sphere was discussed.
Tatiana Runets said: “We highly appreciate friendly and partnership relations between Belarus and Uzbekistan. Belarus views Uzbekistan as an important partner in Central Asia. Interparliamentary contacts and intergovernmental contacts have become systemic and make trade and economic ties stronger. In 2021 Belarus-Uzbekistan trade exceeded $300 million. In H1 2022 mutual trade went up by nearly 40% in comparison with last year's level to exceed $190 million. The potential for stepping up dynamics in the mutual relations is great. We pay close attention to manufacturing cooperation, the establishment of joint manufacturing ventures (MAZ, MTZ, Belkommunmash – environmentally friendly passenger transport).”
During the meeting the MPs looked into interaction on matters of youth policy and women agenda. Tatiana Runets mentioned interest in cooperation with Uzbekistan with a view to expanding the participation of women in digital economy, corporate charity, development of territories, international manufacturing cooperation, realization of women leadership programs, and effective social lifts for women.
The senator said: “I cannot but draw attention to the need to advance cooperation between public associations and movements – movements that unite women and youth. Guys from the Youth Parliament under the National Assembly of Belarus are very active. They participate in the political life of our country, realize interesting projects. For instance, they have held the national contest Team of the Future. I believe their interaction with representatives of Uzbek youth organizations could contribute to stronger partnership in the realization of social and humanitarian projects. Speaking about women of Belarus and Uzbekistan, I'd like to emphasize that they make a tangible contribution to the preservation of national traditions, the reinforcement of the family institution, the promotion of women entrepreneurship, to efforts to increase the role of women in state administration processes. I am convinced that further expansion and intensification of the Belarus-Uzbekistan interparliamentary dialogue, which is traditionally based on principles of mutual respect and trust, will contribute to the realization of the potential of the full spectrum of interaction and we will be able to worthily respond to global and local challenges that women face in the modern turbulent world.”
