MINSK, 12 February (BelTA) – Belarus and Poland need to raise the level of political dialogue in order to promote bilateral relations, Vladimir Chushev, newly appointed Belarus' Ambassador to Poland, told reporters answering a question of a BelTA reporter on 12 February.
The diplomat noted that Poland is a major economic partner of Belarus: Poland ranks fifth in terms of its investment and import in Belarus and is sixth in terms of export and trade in general.
“Belarus should expand contacts with Poland across all the fields, including humanitarian cooperation. This country is of interest to us in terms of cross-border cooperation. We need to pay more attention to export diversification. The export is growing just like the trade, but we need to analyze its structure and sell more high-tech products, light industry products and agricultural products,” Vladimir Chushev noted.
He informed that the legal framework of bilateral cooperation features about 40 documents. In the near future Belarus and Poland are set to sign an agreement on social security. “The parties are also preparing documents regulating the use of facilities located at the railway and motor vehicle checkpoints on the state border, as well as the use and protection of transboundary waters,” Vladimir Chushev said.
The ambassador emphasized the importance of direct interregional contacts. He believes that such contacts should be more vigorous. All in all, the two countries signed 80 interregional documents, 20 of which came into force in recent years.
“In order to promote Belarus-Poland relations, it is important to enhance the level of political dialogue, intensify contacts, including interparliamentary cooperation. The relations should be based on the principles of good neighborliness and equality. Issues will be removed as the bilateral political dialogue will gain momentum. This implies mutual respect and benefits for both sides,” Vladimir Chushev is convinced.
“Taking care of Belarusians living in Poland is another important area of work. Cultural cooperation is also high on the agenda. This year we will mark 200 years since the birth of composer Stanislaw Moniuszko, next year 150 years since the birth of Belarusian and Polish artist Ferdynand Ruszczyc,” the diplomat informed.
