ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Belarus signed on Friday 20 agreements aimed at broadening bilateral cooperation.

Signed during the first visit by a Balarus president to the country, the agreements provide for collaboration in the fields of education, technology, trade, agriculture, information, culture and defence production.

During his two-day visit, President Alexander Lukashenko held talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the two leaders later witnessed the signing of the agreements at the PM House.

Talking to media, Mr Sharif said that the agreements would lay a “structured framework” for future collaboration.

Pakistan invited to open embassy in Minsk

The two leaders also agreed to cooperate at multi-lateral fora on issues, including the United Nations reforms and intensifying inter-parliamentary relations and strengthen partnership in the fight against terrorism, extremism, narcotics, and human trafficking.

The prime minister said that Pakistan was keen to forge closer relations with Belarus in all fields.

President Lukashenko said the signed agreements would go a long way in bringing the two countries closer.

He invited Prime Minister Sharif to visit Belarus.

He also asked Pakistan to open its embassy in Minsk.

He said that representatives of Pakistani businesses should visit Belarus before PM Sharif’s visit to make the prime minister’s visit more useful.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2015

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