MINSK, 20 October (BelTA) – Belarus seeks to build a mutually beneficial cooperation model with all countries, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Igor Sergeyenko said during a dialogue session with parliamentary delegations representing member states of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Vientiane, Laos. The session was held under the theme “The Role of Parliaments in Enhancing Connectivity and Inclusive Growth of ASEAN”, BelTA has learned.
“Economic diplomacy is at the heart of Belarus' foreign policy. It is based on the principles of an open economy, simplified trade procedures, and commitment to building a mutually beneficial cooperation model with all states. Since gaining independence, one of the key objectives for the Republic of Belarus has been to ensure high rates of economic growth offering people a solid social security network. We have managed to prevent a gap between the poor and the rich, while ensuring fairly high standards of living. According to the UN classification, Belarus belongs to the group of states with an above-average income and a very high human development index,” the speaker said.
Belarus is building a welfare state, putting the interests of the people at the core, the speaker noted. “Indeed, the level of progress of Belarus in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is almost 80%," he emphasized.
“The Belarusian economy performs quite well amid global economic instability, crises and external pressure. Despite limited fuel and energy resources and the lack of most important types of raw materials, as well as the external economic shocks of recent years, Belarus has not only preserved, but also increased its development potential,” added Igor Sergeyenko.
A reminder, the Belarusian parliamentary delegation headed by Chairman of the House of Representatives Igor Sergeyenko is paying an official visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
The Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (AIPA) was established in 1977. Currently, ASEAN has 10 member states: Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. The AIPA has 23 observers. The parliament of Belarus received the observer status in September 2011 in Phnom Penh (Kingdom of Cambodia) at the 32nd AIPA General Assembly. This gave Belarus an access to a platform for a permanent dialogue with the member countries of the organization on economic, political, social and humanitarian issues. Belarusian MPs regularly participate in events organized by the AIPA, including the annual AIPA General Assembly.
Photos courtesy of the press service of the House of Representatives
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