MINSK, 20 January (BelTA) – It is important for Belarus to maintain friendly relations with Saudi Arabia and Belarus is ready to cooperate in all areas, Chairperson of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova said as she met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Russian Federation and concurrently to the Republic of Belarus Abdulrahman Bin Suleiman Al Ahmed in Minsk on 20 January, BelTA has learned.
“Belarus attaches great importance to friendly relations with Saudi Arabia and is ready to cooperate in absolutely all areas. I strongly believe that your visit and the meeting with the leadership of our country will give a fresh impetus to our relations and promote friendship between our peoples. Inter-parliamentary contacts are of particular importance for senators. First of all, such contacts are maintained by friendship groups set up in the parliaments of the two countries. Taking this opportunity, I would like to invite a parliamentary delegation of Saudi Arabia to visit our country in order to outline plans for further cooperation,” Natalya Kochanova said.
According to her, Belarus and Saudi Arabia have a significant potential in trade and economic cooperation. “We are open for a broad dialogue,” the speaker noted. “Citizens of Saudi Arabia do not need visas to come to Belarus, and we expect that in the same way Saudi Arabia will cancel visas for Belarusian visitors,” she added.
In turn, the ambassador thanked Natalya Kochanova for the opportunity to meet. “Our countries have built very good and friendly relations,” he stressed.
Abdulrahman Bin Suleiman Al Ahmed noted that due to COVID-19, the exchange of visits was suspended and expressed hope that the situation would return to normal in the near future. The ambassador also added that Saudi Arabia is participating in the tender to host Expo 2030 and is asking Belarus for support on this issue.
