Islamabad, April 10, 2017: Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has called for greater interaction and people-to-people contact with Belarus. He stressed the need for new synergies of parliamentary and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Belarus.He was talking to the parliamentary delegation of Republic of Belarus led by Chairman of the House of Representatives of Belarus Mr. Vladimir Andreinchenko, who called on the Speaker in Parliament House on Monday.Chairman Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Pakistan Mr. Andrei G. Ermolovich were also present on the occasion.
 
The Speaker said that consistent engagement between both countries has added depth to the existing relations and Parliament of Pakistan endeavors to further strengthen the bilateral ties between the legislatures of two countries. He underlined the need for pro-active parliamentary diplomacy to supplement government-to-government interaction. Referring to the role of Parliamentary Friendship Groups, he added that consistent Parliamentary engagements are highly imperative for facilitating diversification of trade and economic relations. 
 
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also called for diversification of the existing collaboration between both countries. “Pakistan is looking for new trade partners as the government has also offered attractive incentives to foreign investors” the Speaker added. The Speaker said that it is the best time for the companies of Belarus to explore Pakistan for investment and joint ventures in areas of mutual interest. He further said that Pakistan is keen to benefit from Belarus’s trade, agriculture and manufacturing sectors in Pakistan. Heemphasized the need for expansion of economic relations through sustained engagement of chambers of commerce and other business forums.
 
The Speaker remarked that Pakistan is committed to foster regional integration by linking regional countries into ‘One Belt’ of trade, prosperity and connectivity. He assured the Belarus Parliamentary delegation that Pakistan is determined to benefit the entire region from CPEC and its sea ports to assist the regional countries in achieving shared prosperity.
 
Talking to Speaker, Chairman of the House of Representatives of Belarus Mr. Vladimir Andreinchenko expressed his desire to cement inter-Parliamentary, economic and diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Belarus. He stressed the need for regular interaction between Parliamentarians of both countries and said that parliamentary engagement could play a pivotal role to bring both nations closer.
 
He said that Belarus and Pakistani business communities were in regular contact and has inked various agreements for mutual cooperation. He said that Pakistan is an important trade partner of Belarus and is interested in broadening trade with Pakistan as both the countries have immense potential to expand bilateral trade and economic relations in diverse fields.
 
Later on, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between National Assembly of Pakistan and House of Representatives of Belarus in an impressive ceremony held in Parliament House. The MoU was signed by Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Chairman of the House of Representatives of Belarus Mr. Vladimir Andreinchenko. Earlier, Mr. Vladimir Andreinchenko, also planted a Sapling of Mangolia Grandi Flora in the lawn of Parliament House.