Sergey Lukashevich. An archive photo
MINSK, 15 January (BelTA) – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS are the two most important structures of the emerging multipolar world system, Belarusian First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lukashevich told BelTA. On 15 January Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko approved strategies designed to guide Belarus’ participation in the SCO and BRICS.
Sergey Lukashevich said: “In 2024 the Republic of Belarus became a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and acquired the status of a BRICS state partner. These are the two most important structures of the emerging multipolar world system, a community of like-minded states, which are united by the common understanding of global processes and are ready to demonstrate with concrete deeds and their own example the possibilities and advantages of equal cooperation without the diktat of the West.”
The first deputy minister of foreign affairs pointed out: “Such serious decisions on the international positioning of the country have never been made pro forma in Belarus. The consequent logical step was the development of two fundamental documents that determine the tasks and conceptual directions of our country’s work in these respected international organizations: the strategy of Belarus’ participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the strategy of actions to implement Belarus’ foreign policy within the framework of participation in BRICS’s work.”
The main tasks of Belarus’ participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Sergey Lukashevich stated that Belarus views the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a regional organization that facilitates the establishment of a multipolar fair and stable world order based on universally recognized principles of international law. Belarus views the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as an organization that has a high potential for stepping up mutually beneficial trade, economic, and investment cooperation and the development of cultural and humanitarian interaction.
“Our participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is primarily aimed at protecting Belarus’ state interests at the multilateral level, at creating favorable external conditions that ensure the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security of our state, at promoting comprehensive and balanced economic growth, social and cultural development in the region with a view to improving the level and living standards of the nations that live in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states. The SCO’s potential will be used to accomplish common tasks in the field of politics and security, to look for optimal mechanisms for expanding economic cooperation, deepening cultural and humanitarian ties in the organization’s space,” the first deputy minister of foreign affairs stressed.
He also identified the main tasks of Belarus’ participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In particular, an increase in Belarus’ international standing as a peace-loving state, an active participant of international cooperation; promotion of coordinated approaches of the member states, observers, and dialogue partners of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization at international platforms.
The main tasks also include creating an indivisible security space, jointly countering traditional and new challenges and threats to the security of the member states, including extremism, terrorism and separatism in all manifestations, illicit trafficking in drugs and weapons, other types of transnational criminal activity, illegal migration, challenges in cyberspace and other things. The main tasks also include deepening practical trade and economic, financial, investment cooperation, joint project activities within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization; expansion of cultural and humanitarian cooperation, including in the spheres of science, engineering and technology, education, healthcare, sport, environmental protection.
“Specific initiatives of the Republic of Belarus in the SCO will be focused on the realization of foreign political interests and foreign economic interests of our country,” said Sergey Lukashevich.
Goals of Belarus’ participation in BRICS’ work
The first deputy foreign minister of Belarus said: “In the current geopolitical conditions we consider BRICS as a unique international platform that unites efforts of the global majority aimed at the formation of true multipolarity, equality and inclusiveness in international relations, as well as search for effective ways to solve urgent problems. The goal of Belarus’ participation in BRICS’ work is to actively engage in the work of the existing multilateral mechanisms of the association, taking into account prospects of its further institutionalization.”
Sergey Lukashevich emphasized that cooperation within the framework of BRICS proceeds in three main areas: politics and security, economy and finance, culture and humanitarian ties. He outlined the priority areas of Belarus’ interaction with BRICS member and partner states.
In particular, these are cooperation in politics and security based on the principles of mutual respect, indivisible security, guarantees of the development of countries without confrontation and antagonism; sustainable economic development aimed at preserving and increasing human potential, ensuring high social standards and a decent quality of life, introduction of innovations and the latest technologies; ensuring global food security, combating hunger, poverty, and consequences of climate change; expansion of multilateral cooperation in the field of humanitarian affairs.
The first deputy minister of foreign affairs remarked: “On the whole, Belarus’ participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS is aimed at ensuring a continuous political dialogue with countries of the Global South about pressing problems of global and regional security, facilitating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and building economically self-sufficient states.”
Sergey Lukashevich also summarized: “Belarus’ interaction with BRICS at the current stage will proceed taking into account the opportunities provided by the partner state status while maintaining the ultimate goal of obtaining full membership of our country in the association”.
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