MINSK, 5 February (BelTA) - Southeast Asia is of interest to Belarus as both a vast market and a source of political support in international organizations, Sergei Rachkov, Chairman of the Standing Committee on International Affairs of the House of Representatives, told the media on 4 February, BelTA has learned.
“The Republic of Belarus is quite well-represented in Southeast Asia. We are well-known in the 11 countries that form the ASEAN association. For us, this region is of interest, first and foremost, from two positions. It is a vast market of about 700 million people. On the other hand, we value the political support of these countries in international organizations and within the overall emerging multipolar world order,” Sergei Rachkov said.
Regarding economic relations, the MP noted that they are developing very well. According to him, Belarus’ foreign trade with Southeast Asian countries in 2025 exceeded $1.1 billion. Belarus had a trade surplus which attests to the demand for Belarusian goods in this capacious market.
Sergei Rachkov noted that several countries are of particular interest in terms of investment cooperation, primarily Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. “We are working to utilize the opportunities in these countries to attract capital into the Belarusian economy. The parliamentary dimension helps advance our interests. It is worth mentioning that in 2025, we held numerous meetings both with the heads of parliaments in these countries and with friendship groups established within the parliaments of Southeast Asian nations,” he said.
According to the MP, the Belarusian president contributes significantly to the development of relations with these countries. “The current strategy is to offer what we can, carefully listen to what our partners in this region want, and implement the agreements. It is important not to lose time, as competition today is very intense,” he emphasized.
“The Republic of Belarus is quite well-represented in Southeast Asia. We are well-known in the 11 countries that form the ASEAN association. For us, this region is of interest, first and foremost, from two positions. It is a vast market of about 700 million people. On the other hand, we value the political support of these countries in international organizations and within the overall emerging multipolar world order,” Sergei Rachkov said.
Regarding economic relations, the MP noted that they are developing very well. According to him, Belarus’ foreign trade with Southeast Asian countries in 2025 exceeded $1.1 billion. Belarus had a trade surplus which attests to the demand for Belarusian goods in this capacious market.
“We, as MPs, work in coordination with the government to promote our economic interests in this region through communication with our counterparts. Our efforts are aided by working both in a bilateral format, directly with Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and other countries, and in a multilateral format. Primarily, we hold observer status in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly. Annually, we hold dialogues with these countries within this parliamentary framework, discussing absolutely all aspects of bilateral and multilateral relations, including political and humanitarian cooperation. However, the central focus remains on trade and economic interaction.”
Sergei Rachkov noted that several countries are of particular interest in terms of investment cooperation, primarily Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. “We are working to utilize the opportunities in these countries to attract capital into the Belarusian economy. The parliamentary dimension helps advance our interests. It is worth mentioning that in 2025, we held numerous meetings both with the heads of parliaments in these countries and with friendship groups established within the parliaments of Southeast Asian nations,” he said.
According to the MP, the Belarusian president contributes significantly to the development of relations with these countries. “The current strategy is to offer what we can, carefully listen to what our partners in this region want, and implement the agreements. It is important not to lose time, as competition today is very intense,” he emphasized.
Sergei Rachkov is convinced that a serious struggle for the Southeast Asian region is underway between two superpowers: the United States and China. The European Union is also attempting to strengthen its position in this part of the world. He believes Belarus should also leverage, among other avenues, the opportunities provided by its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union to advance its interests.
Photos by Vitaly Pivovarchik
Photos by Vitaly Pivovarchik
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