Lukashenka wants new push in relations with Kazakhstan

Лукашэнка хоча новага глытка паветра ў адносінах Беларусі і Казахстана

Belarus and Kazakhstan should overcome the negative trends in the trade and economic cooperation, said Alyaksandr Lukashenka today at a meeting with Nursultan Nazarbayev in Astana.

"Our meeting is very important. Due to the situation in the international markets, in the neighboring Russia, Ukraine (our main partners), the situation in Kazakhstan and Belarus is not simple. Our confidential and friendly conversation has always been beneficial. I think today we will agree on how to get out of this situation," BELTA quoted the head of Belarus as saying.

Lukashenka noted that Belarus and Kazakhstan have not been able to change the downward trend of mutual trade turnover. According to him, these states are close to each other living in the single economic union. Therefore, countries need to improve trade and economy. "We need a breath of fresh air and, no matter how difficult it may be, today we must urge our governments and push our relationship to quickly get out of this situation," suggested the head of state. He added that discussions on the development of scientific and technical cooperation between Belarus and Kazakhstan are underway.

In response, Nursultan Nazarbayev said  that Belarus and Kazakhstan have developed a close alliance. The Kazakh leader said that in recent years there has been created a lot of joint ventures. Although the turnover in money terms has decreased, its physical volumes are the same.