Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Sergei Martynov Visits Malaysia

July 25, 2007

On July 25, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Sergei Martynov began his working visit to Malaysia. The main goal of the visit is to boost and expand the bilateral Belarus-Malaysia relations in pursuance of the agreements reached by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in the course of the Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in September 2006 in Havana, Cuba.

On the first day of the visit, Mr. Martynov met with President of the Senate of Malaysia Abdul Hamid Pawanteh. The parties confirmed the mutual willingness to maintain close political interaction and provide mutual support in the international arena as well as to develop the whole spectrum of the bilateral relations. The Malaysian side expressed readiness for expanding direct inter-parliamentary links.

The meeting between Belarus’ Foreign Minister and Acting Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah focused on opportunities of boosting the trade and developing cooperation in economic and investment spheres. The parties agreed on organizing trips of delegations of Malaysian businessmen to Belarus in 2008 under the aegis of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia. The sides also arranged to intensify to a maximum extent the bilateral work on concluding agreements on economic and scientific-technical cooperation, on mutual promotion and protection of investments, on avoidance of double taxation, which will provide a legal framework and additional impetus for boosting the economic cooperation. The ministers also settled to speed up Belarus-Malaysia negotiations on Belarus’ accession to WTO.

During the meeting between the Foreign Minister of Belarus and top officials of the National Chamber of Trade and Industry of Malaysia the Malaysian side highlighted the interest of the national business community in developing trade-economic cooperation with Belarus. In particular, the Malaysian side paid serious attention to the advantages of investing into the Belarusian economy based on free access to the markets of the Eurasian Economic Community participating countries and opportunities of using free economic zones. The Malaysian Chamber of Industry and Trade will take an active part in arranging business trips to Belarus.The programme of the visit, which will last till July 26, also includes a meeting of Mr. Martynov with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Syed Hamid Albar.

For reference:

The diplomatic relations between Belarus and Malaysia were established on March 5, 1992.

On September 4, 2006, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Russian Federation Mohamad Khalis presented his credentials as Ambassador of Malaysia to the Republic of Belarus on concurrent to President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.

In June 1999, a Belarus’ delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs Ural Latypov paid a visit to Malaysia.

A meeting between Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Drazhin and Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Ahmed Badawi was held in September 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa in the course of the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

In February 2003, a Belarusian delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikhail Khvostov took part in the 13th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia.

Belarus and Malaysia as NAM active members share similar views on many key issues of the international agenda, speak for building a multi-polar world, promote cooperation among all nations based on equality and respect for state sovereignty and international law. The both countries pursue independent foreign and socially oriented domestic policies. Belarus and Malaysia cooperate closely within international organisations. Mutual political understanding, contiguous approaches to economic development and its intensive growth comprise an essential foundation for enhancing the bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

In 2006 the trade turnover between the two states increased considerably to the tune of over USD 132.0 mln. Belarus traditionally exports to Malaysia potassium fertilizers, some electric equipment, metal-rolls, furniture, spare parts for trucks and tractors. Belarus imports from Malaysia mainly natural latex, synthetic fibers, rubber clothes, electronic integrated circuits, computer, household, and radio-electronic equipment.

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