site.btaForeign Ministers of Bulgaria, Belarus Discuss Potential to Advance Bilateral Cooperation

February 6 (BTA) - Deputy PM and Foreign Minister
Ekaterina Zaharieva and Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir
Makei discussed ways to deepen cooperation between their two
countries in the area of economy, energy, tourism, education and
 technology here on Thursday.

Speaking after the meeting Zaharieva said that just as Bulgaria
can be a gateway for the Belarusian business to the EU market,
Belarus can serve as a gateway for Bulgaria to the region. The
Bulgarian Foreign Minister said that this year officials of the
Bulgarian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Promotion Agency
and business representatives will visit Minsk. Minister
Zaharieva noted the positive development of trade, adding
however that still there is untapped potential for both
countries.

Some 74,000 Belarusian citizens visited Bulgaria in 2019,
Zaharieva said.

Education and culture are also among the areas where relations
can be enhanced, said Zaharieva. She voiced satisfaction with
the fact that already seven classes of the Belarusian State
University have graduated in Bulgarian studies. The sides agreed
 that the culture ministries of Bulgaria and Belarus will begin
work on a cooperation plan in the area of culture. Also,
negotiations are underway on drawing up agreements on social
security and labour exchange between the two countries.

The Belarusian Foreign Minister underscored a shared opinion
that contacts between the governments of the two countries and
peer organizations should be expanded in areas of mutual
interests. Minister Makei said that the two sides see potential
for furthering cooperation in industry, agriculture, IT,
science, research and investments.

This is the first visit to Bulgaria by a Belarusian foreign
minister after the countries established diplomatic relations in
 1992. RY/PP