Lukashenko arrived in Azerbaijan on state visit
President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has arrived in Azerbaijan on a state visit, landing at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, BelTA reports
The national flags of Belarus and Azerbaijan were hoisted on flagpoles in front of the Sharaf government terminal, and the honour guards lined up along a cyan runner carpet in anticipation of the Head of State.
First Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Yagub Eyyubov, Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Belarus Maharram Aliyev, as well as members of the Belarusian delegation – Deputy Prime Minister Igor Petrishenko, Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik and head of the Belarusian diplomatic mission Andrei Ravkov – greeted Aleksandr Lukashenko at the airstair.
On the eve of the President's visit, the heads of Belarusian state bodies and enterprises held talks with their Azerbaijani counterparts in Baku. In addition, the largest agricultural exhibitions in the region, Caspian Agro and Interfood Azerbaijan, are taking place in the capital these days. During the forum, Belarusian producers have already signed agreements worth $54m.
As reported by the Belarusian leader’s press service, Aleksandr Lukashenko will hold official talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku. The meeting of the two leaders will be held in a one-on-one format and in an expanded one with the participation of members of the delegations. “The presidents will consider topical issues of bilateral relations with an emphasis on expanding trade and economic ties in various sectors and developing co-operation in the fields of industry and agriculture. Co-operation between Belarus and Azerbaijan on international platforms and within integration associations will become another topic of the talks. The heads of state will discuss the situation in the region and in the world as a whole. Following the negotiations, a package of bilateral documents is expected to be signed,” the source said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko and Ilham Aliyev are also likely to visit the Caspian Agro international agricultural exhibition in Baku to get acquainted with the expositions of Belarus and Azerbaijan, as well as the implementation of joint projects in the field of agriculture.
In 2023, the trade turnover between the two countries exceeded $400m. Belarusian exports amounted to more than $370m million, or 77 percent more than in 2022.
"We exchange goods in the woodworking industry (we sell a whole range of product to Azerbaijan – including longitudinally sawn timber, wallpaper, and toilet paper), co-operate in mechanical engineering, work together in the oil refining industry (mutual trade in oil refined products). We liaise in pharmaceutic and food industry, also co-operating in tourism, sports and other humanitarian areas. In short, we enjoy a wide range of relations," the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Azerbaijan, Andrei Ravkov, said.
Definitely, the competition in the Azerbaijani market is high: the world's leading manufacturers supply their products here. However, as noted by Mr. Ravkov, the conditions are unlikely to change, “Competition will continue growing, and we need to work, perfect ourselves and promote our products under these conditions. Everything depends on us, so need to work.”
