The UAE-Belarus Joint Committee held its ministerial meeting remotely on July 20 under the co-chairmanship of Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Dmitry Pantus, Belarus Minister of State Authority for Military Industry. The ministerial meeting took place after the preparatory meetings of the Joint Committee’s fifth session which were held from July 13 – 16, 2020. Stakeholders from several sectors of mutual interest participated in the preparatory meetings to take decisions on various issues.

Opening the ministerial meeting on Monday, Dr Gargash welcomed all the attendees and laid emphasis on the need for bilateral cooperation to fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He asserted that the Joint Committee meeting amid the fight against COVID-19 displays robustness of the relations between the UAE and Belarus and their dedication in promoting cooperation between the two countries across various fields.

Dr.Gargash further highlighted that the UAE and Belarus have experienced paramount developments in their bilateral relations over recent years with the support of the leadership of the two countries. Over recent years, there have been significant high-level visits and signing of key memoranda of understanding between the leadership of the two countries that have strengthened the relations between the two countries.

"Trade between the UAE and the Republic of Belarus has increased significantly over the past years, which is an incentive for both sides to promote joint action at the governmental level and in partnership with the private sector," Dr.Gargash added.

The UAE Minister of State also urged the private sector companies in both countries to make use of their stable business environments and distinctive geographic positioning to boost trade and investment partnerships across various fields in a bid to expand markets for their products and initiate entry into other untapped markets of Europe and Asia.

Concluding his remarks, Dr.Gargash hailed the efforts taken by the Committee members in encouraging bilateral cooperation in key sectors and praised the signing of various memoranda of understanding between the two countries.

Adding to Dr.Gargash's remarks, Dmitry Pantus expressed happiness over the fruitful meeting of the Joint Committee to facilitate bilateral ties between Belarus and the UAE. Furthermore, he underscored Belarus's commitment to enhancing partnership with the UAE across various levels such as the economy, security, and culture.

At the end of the meeting, participants signed the minutes of the UAE-Belarus Joint Committee's fifth session, along with a draft memorandum of understanding for collaboration in the areas of food security, environmental protection, agriculture, and the fight against human trafficking. The attendees also signed a draft memorandum of understanding between the UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation and the Belarusian Ministry of Emergency Situations. 

WAM