President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has arrived in Pakistan on an official visit. The Belarusian Air Force One landed in Islamabad at the Nur Khan Air Force Base, BELTA correspondent reports.
Besides military purposes, the base is used for receiving aircraft carrying official delegations of foreign states.
The Head of State was personally met at the aircraft steps by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif.
A detachment of thirty servicemen from the guard of honour lined the red carpet. The welcoming ceremony was accompanied by ceremonial gun salutes. This tradition is not merely considered good form but also signifies the friendly disposition of the host country.
The visit of the President of Belarus to Islamabad was approached with responsibility. The capital of the Islamic state was adorned with Belarusian national symbols and posters featuring portraits of Alexander Lukashenko and the top leadership of Pakistan. The posters themselves were inscribed in Belarusian and English: "Mutual respect, trust and partnership", "Building bridges for a flourishing future", "Partners in progress and prosperity", "A new era of cooperation".
Concurrently with the Head of State's visit, a Belarusian-Pakistani forum was organised in Islamabad. As reported by the Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mikhail Miatlikov, Belarusian enterprises have already reached agreements worth $17 million.
The total trade turnover between the countries based on the results of 2023 amounted to almost $50 million. However, the President of Belarus believes that this figure does not correspond to the existing potential. In August, at a meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the head of the Belarusian state emphasized that the parties agreed to "renew, having revised, relations, to bring them to an even higher level than before".
"You must agree that the trade turnover between high-tech Belarus and a country with over 200 million people (like Pakistan. - BELTA note) is, I would say, even meagre. Therefore, we need to deepen and expand our trade turnover in terms of nomenclature," Alexander Lukashenko is convinced.
The press service of the head of state reported that the main focus during the visit will be on further expanding mutually beneficial cooperation with an emphasis on practical steps to develop trade and economic interaction.
In Islamabad, Alexander Lukashenko will hold talks with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif. The meeting will be held in a narrow format and in an expanded composition with the participation of delegation members. The parties will consider the most promising areas of cooperation and discuss a joint action plan for the future.
"Special attention will be paid to the topic of regional and global security, cooperation within integration associations, and joint work on international platforms. Following the negotiations, a package of international documents will be signed," the press service of the Belarusian leader stated.
belta.by