KARACHI, Pakistan 

Pakistan and Belarus announced Tuesday an agreement to bolster bilateral cooperation, especially in economic, political, and technology fields, aside from abolishing visa requirement for diplomatic and official passports. 

The agreement reached during a two-day visit of Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik to Islamabad on the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said a joint statement.

During the visit, Aleinik also met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Gen. Asim Munir, besides comprehensive delegation-level talks with Zardari.

The top diplomats had a wide-ranging and substantive discussion on a variety of topics, including cooperation in politics economics, technology, culture, and education, the statement said.

The ministers, it added, intend to support business initiatives aimed at developing trade and industrial cooperation between the two countries, among other things, through the participation in exhibitions and fair events in both countries, holding face-to-face and online negotiations.

As Feb. 3, 2024 will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Belarus, the ministers welcomed the intention to develop a plan of joint events dedicated to the anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The two foreign ministers also signed an agreement on visa abolition for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

The agreement would enhance interaction and exchanges between Pakistan and Belarus, and facilitate travel of diplomats and government functionaries, the statement concluded.

Later, the top diplomats also addressed a joint press conference at the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, vowing to step up efforts to strengthen business, trade and technological cooperation between the two countries.