MINSK, 5 February (BelTA) - Belarus' participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is not a tribute to fashion but rather a search for new points of growth, Ambassador at Large for Belarus' engagement with the SCO and BRICS Andrei Luchenok said in the latest episode of BelTA's YouTube project “After the Fact: Lukashenko’s Decisions".
"When we decided to join the organization, it was not just a matter of fashion or a bid to follow the trend. We were well aware of the potential that the SCO had to offer and we hoped to gain practical benefits from our involvement. Initially, the organization was created as a platform for security cooperation, and now we are hoping for further growth and development," Ambassador Andrei Luchenok said.
In January, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko approved the strategies for Belarus' participation in the SCO and BRICS. These documents define the objectives and priority areas of the work.
The focus is on the economy, the ambassador mentioned. "Nowadays, due to the dominance of some Western countries in the global economy and finance, a number of states are facing severe sanctions and trade restrictions. Naturally, we are interested in developing a new alternative financial and investment infrastructure. This idea has been discussed within the SCO and BRICS. At the same time, we are working on increasing the use of national currencies in international transactions to reduce the dependence on Western currencies," the ambassador said.
The next priority area is logistics. Belarus seeks to create and develop existing transportation corridors, railroads, overland, maritime and multimodal transport. "Transport interconnectivity and expansion of the SCO logistics space are areas where we see opportunities for work and practical benefits," the diplomat emphasized.
"The third priority area is food security. We have experience, competencies, and achievements in this area and are ready to share our technologies," Ambassador Andrei Luchenok said. "We have proposed several initiatives, including the Agro-SCO exhibition within the framework of the Belagro international agricultural exhibition and the creation of an Inter-exchange union of the SCO countries. This will help to establish our own price indicators and ensure fair pricing for exchange goods. This is in the interests of all member states of the organization."
We should not forget about the cultural and humanitarian cooperation, the ambassador added. "The SCO stands for mutual respect and multiculturalism. It is very important to bring peoples together, strengthen the 'Shanghai family', the Shanghai spirit. This is why we hold joint sports competitions and cultural festivals. I believe there will be more of these events in the future," the diplomat said.
In January, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko approved the strategies for Belarus' participation in the SCO and BRICS. These documents define the objectives and priority areas of the work.
The focus is on the economy, the ambassador mentioned. "Nowadays, due to the dominance of some Western countries in the global economy and finance, a number of states are facing severe sanctions and trade restrictions. Naturally, we are interested in developing a new alternative financial and investment infrastructure. This idea has been discussed within the SCO and BRICS. At the same time, we are working on increasing the use of national currencies in international transactions to reduce the dependence on Western currencies," the ambassador said.
"The third priority area is food security. We have experience, competencies, and achievements in this area and are ready to share our technologies," Ambassador Andrei Luchenok said. "We have proposed several initiatives, including the Agro-SCO exhibition within the framework of the Belagro international agricultural exhibition and the creation of an Inter-exchange union of the SCO countries. This will help to establish our own price indicators and ensure fair pricing for exchange goods. This is in the interests of all member states of the organization."
We should not forget about the cultural and humanitarian cooperation, the ambassador added. "The SCO stands for mutual respect and multiculturalism. It is very important to bring peoples together, strengthen the 'Shanghai family', the Shanghai spirit. This is why we hold joint sports competitions and cultural festivals. I believe there will be more of these events in the future," the diplomat said.
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