MINSK, 10 April (BelTA) - We now can clearly see that Belarus has many reliable partners across the globe, Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Natalya Kochanova said at the closing meeting of the 11th session of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the seventh convocation on 10 April, BelTA has learned.
“Unfortunately, the modern world is sinking deeper and deeper into a permanent state of anxiety, turbulence, total uncertainty. This process has become a natural result of aggravation of interstate contradictions, undermining of traditional ideas about international law and attempts to replace it with dubious rules, which are applied in the interests of a small group of countries of the so-called collective West. Double and even triple standards continue to be used in international relations, sovereign states are imposed foreign models of development,” Natalya Kochanova said. “Belarus has always opposed such a policy. We proceed from the principle of common and indivisible security in the whole Eurasian space. We condemn the imposition of illegal and illegitimate sanctions. The primary task of MPs in such conditions is to build cooperation that would not depend on the will of foreign forces. We have made sure that Belarus has many reliable and good partners who share our views and are ready to develop real, meaningful cooperation in various sectors.”
A total of 64 international meetings held in the Council of the Republic and 17 visits of foreign parliamentary delegations testify to the fact. In turn, Belarusian MPs took part in more than 100 international events abroad. Meetings were held with ambassadors of more than 20 countries of different regions. The interest of diplomatic representatives in cooperation with the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament continues to grow, the speaker said.
“Although many things are changing in the world, our historical choice remains unchanged. The Union State construction with brotherly Russia has always been and remains the main strategic area for our transparent responsible multi-vector foreign policy,” the speaker of the Council of the Republic emphasized. “The legislative bodies of Belarus and Russia is maintain close friendly relations. Exchange visits of parliamentary delegations of both states at the level of the heads of the chambers of the parliaments contributed to the development of new areas and forms of interaction. The implementation of the Inter-Parliamentary Agreement of 2022 is in full swing. A lot has been done to strengthen the Union State and enhance the authority of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. The focus was on the implementation of the guidelines for the implementation of the provisions of the Union State Treaty for 2021-2023 and 28 Union State programs. The National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus has adopted 24 laws. Our common ultimate goal is to steadily improve the quality of life of Belarusians and Russians and the well-being of the two countries. The annual forums of the regions of Belarus and Russia held under the patronage of our heads of state make a significant contribution to the overall result.”
China is a key trade and investment partner on the Asian continent, the speaker noted. “In this regard, the promotion of the interstate agreements with the People's Republic of China on the establishment of relations of all-weather and all-round strategic partnership was one of the priorities of the international activities of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus of the seventh convocation. During this time, cooperation between the legislative bodies of Belarus and China considerably strengthened and became more substantive. An inter-parliamentary agreement was signed. A working group, a High-Level Committee on Cooperation was established. The practice of meetings with Chinese colleagues at inter-parliamentary events to coordinate positions and online meetings to exchange experience in parliamentary activities were introduced. Joint work was organized in humanitarian cooperation,” Natalya Kochanova added. “We have consistently pursued a course of deepening integration cooperation with all countries of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States. We share a glorious past, common victories and common achievements. We understand each other perfectly well, share the same ideals and values. Today the relations between Belarus and the countries of the Eurasian region are of strategic partnership, an important element of which is the inter-parliamentary interaction based on the principles of respect and equality,” the president said.
“We are moving forward in solidarity with those countries that extend us a hand of friendship and are ready to resist the globalist dictate by strengthening mutual cooperation on the basis of common ideological principles and aspirations for a more balanced fair multipolar world order. In this context, work has continued to develop bilateral contacts with the faraway countries - Asia, Africa and Latin America. The interaction between the parliaments of Belarus and Cuba has been well-established in recent years. An agreement on inter-parliamentary cooperation has been signed, a new format of joint work - the High Level Inter-Parliamentary Commission - has been introduced. Bilateral interaction has been intensified with Venezuela, Iran, Nicaragua, Mongolia, and other countries showing high interest in cooperation with the Republic of Belarus,” Natalya Kochanova said.
