This year will be an important stage in the development of relations between Belarus and Moldova. The visits of the President and Prime Minister of this country to Minsk will take place this summer.
Today, Alexander Lukashenko met with Gheorghe Hioara, the ambassador of Moldova. The meeting was held on the occasion of Gheorghe Hioara’s completion of his diplomatic mission in Belarus. The ambassador headed the diplomatic mission in our country for 7 years. Gheorghe Hioara has many connections with Belarus, for example, his father was wounded near Bobruisk during the Great Patriotic War. Gheorghe Hioara visited Minsk for the first time in 1969, as part of the Moldova wrestling team. Today the diplomat confessed that he leaves Belarus with sadness, because he fell in love with the brotherly country.
This year, the trade turnover between the two countries exceeded $227 million. The core Belarusian exports are oil products, tractors, trolleybuses, sugar, potatoes, ceramic tiles, tires, and refrigerators. Moldova exports grape wines, vegetables and fruits to Belarus.
As of early 2017, exports have grown 44%. The president instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to analyze these trends. Minsk and Chisinau have established close cooperation. In Moldova, they assemble Belkommunmash trolleybuses, gardening equipment, and small tractors. Last year a joint production of Belarusian wireless trolleybuses was launched in Chisinau. Belarus is ready to help Moldova modernize its automobile and railway infrastructure, and to share experience in industry, construction, agriculture, and other spheres.
Two weeks ago, the presidents of Belarus and Moldova met in Bishkek, during the EAEU summit, where the heads of states agreed to grant Moldova the status of an observer. In 2014, the republic signed an association agreement with the EU, but the current leadership of the country sees prospects in restoring ties with the EAEU countries. Chisinau makes relies on relations with Minsk. In Bishkek, Alexander Lukashenko and Igor Dodon agreed to further promote the bilateral relations. The next step is Igor Dodon's official visit to Minsk – it is scheduled for mid-July. In early June, Prime Minister of Moldova Pavel Filip will visit Belarus.
