President Lukashenko Tells Larijani in Minsk:

Belarus, Iran Capable of Hitting $1 Billion in Trade

Date: 07 September 2018 - 21:55

News ID: ۵۷۱۰۲

MINSK (Dispatches) – Belarus and Iran are capable of reaching $1 billion in mutual trade, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said at a meeting with Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani here Friday.
"I am convinced that following your visit it will be possible to say that our relations have risen to a higher level. We have wonderful political relations. The economy, however, still leaves much to be desired. Trade and economic relations should be more developed,” Lukashenko said.
The Belarus president stressed that the mutual trade of $300-400 million is nothing for the potential of the two countries. "Our mutual trade needs to be $1 billion,” he said.
Relations between Iran and Belarus should be more than just partnership. "Our relations should be similar to those which very friendly and close states have. We have all conditions for it. We have products that are critical for Iran. We can also buy a lot of commodities from Iran,” Lukashenko said.
The number one goal for the two states, he said, is to implement bilateral agreements. "We will do it on our part, I guarantee this to you,” the Belarusian leader said.
Larijani thanked President Lukashenko for the opportunity to visit Belarus, and also conveyed greetings to the Belarusian head of state from top Iranian officials.
"We are also convinced that the Republic of Belarus is a friendly country for us, and we fully trust it,” he stressed.
After the meeting with the Belarusian head of state, the speaker of the Iranian parliament told the media that Belarus and Iran have friendly relations.
"We enjoy close cooperation in the international arena, hold regular consultations on important regional issues. The level of inter-parliamentary relations is also very good,” he said.
When asked about the ways to develop trade and economic cooperation and also the prospects for reaching the level of trade set out by the Belarusian president, Larijani noted that President Lukashenko voiced good ideas regarding the expansion of the relations.
"We agree with his opinion in general. There are many potential opportunities both in Iran and Belarus which need to be intensified. We have discussed agriculture, industry and other sectors. We will discuss these issues with our counterparts in the Belarusian parliament,” he said.
As for Belarus-Iran cooperation in the oil sector, Larijani said: "One of the aspects of our trade and economic cooperation is oil. We discuss all the aspects of trade and economic relations.”
The Iranian speaker added that impetus should be added to this and other areas of cooperation.
On Thursday, Larijani attended a meeting with senior Russian lawmakers in the southwestern Russian city of Volgograd.
"Iran and Russia have had a great share in fighting terrorism, and the terrorists are today drawing their last breaths in Syria,” Larijani said during the meeting.
U.S. behavior toward Russia and Iran has witnessed some changes, he said, noting that Tehran and Moscow should to the same degree hold closer consultations with each other to better respond to Washington's actions.
Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin said the Americans want to decide exclusively and unilaterally, and form a unipolar world.
He said relations between Iran and Russia were already expanding "dynamically,” adding that the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries had increased by 30 percent year-on-year. However, the top parliamentarian emphasized that Tehran and Moscow still needed to do more to boost their bonds.
Larijani said Iran and Russia needed to further expand their cooperation specifically in the area of railroad transportation.
Before leaving Tehran, Larijani referred to Russia and Belarus as "friendly countries,” describing relations of both countries with Iran as close.
Larijani is being accompanied by several parliamentarians during the tour.