MINSK, 14 September (BelTA) – Over 60% of the experts specializing in this field believe that interaction within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meets Belarus' interests, BelTA learned from Yuri Yarmolinsky, Head of the Multilateral Cooperation and Global Challenges Department at the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Research (BISR).
The BISR arranged an online poll “Turn to Asia” for experts in June-July. The poll's results were presented on 14 September.
“It was the first time we'd tried to assess the traffic situation before the turn to Asia. We tried to assess primarily the feelings that exist in the professional communities that drive this movement towards Asia. Generally speaking, the results are rather optimistic. Our industry-specific experts are positive about past, present, and future relations with our Asian partners. For example, more than 60% believe that interaction with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is in the interests of Belarus. Virtually 70% believe that Belarus needs a separate Asian strategy,” Yuri Yarmolinsky said. “80-90% believe that economy, technology and finance represent the main direction of our interaction with Asia.”
Over 400 industry-specific specialists were polled. Questions were sent to 28 ministries, government agencies, and industry-specific associations. “We've unearthed problems and tried to determine some roadmap,” the official said.
The event took place ahead of a session of the Heads of State Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Samarkand where the official procedure for Belarus' accession to the organization as a member state will begin. Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Marketing Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Agency of International Business Development, Beltamozhservice, the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange, and other organizations were invited to participate in the presentation of the poll's results.
