Minsk summit: Egypt, Belarus affirm strong economic cooperation

CAIRO - 18 June 2019: Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko affirmed strong relations, promising to enhance bilateral ties in different fields, during a summit held in Minsk.

Belarus President Lukashenko said that economic cooperation with Egypt has witnessed a strong boost recently, noting that this cooperation has many promising prospects that allow further progress in the overall relations between the two countries.

Lukashenko said in his welcome speech to President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi before a bilateral summit between them started in Minsk that the trade exchange between both Egypt and Belarus was doubled. He added that during his visit to Egypt in 2017, many aspects of cooperation have already been achieved.

Lukashenko is the first and only president of Belarus since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Sisi arrived in Belarus on Monday on an official visit as part of a tour that will take him to Romania.

For his part, President Sisi affirmed in a press conference the strength of the relations between the two countries, saying that he has discussed with the Belarus president ways to enhance the bilateral ties.

There is an Egyptian keenness to enhance cooperation, especially after a group of friendship was formed between Egypt and Belarus. Sisi said that he also discussed enhancing cooperation in the fields of tourism and energy.


Sisi meets with Belarus Prime Minister Siarhiej Rumas - Press photo

Sisi met earlier with Belarus Prime Minister Siarhiej Rumas. During their meeting, Sisi said that the Belarus industries have a big chance to be distributed in the Egyptian markets, where these products can take advantage of the modern infrastructure in Egypt and pass to the African markets, presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said.

In 2018, Lukashenko of Belarus congratulated incumbent Abdel Fatah al-Sisi Monday for winning the presidential race against Moussa Moustafa Moussa, saying in a cable that he is confident that Sisi’s wisdom and experience would help deepen mutual relations in various realms.

Lukashenko said that Sisi is capable of fulfilling the interests and aspirations of Egypt, as he managed to maintain international stances and obtain the “great support” of Egyptian people for the path of stability and progress, the cable read.