The Palace of Independence has guests again. This time from the Republic of Guinea-Bissau. The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, held talks with the President of this country, Umaro Sissoko Embalo. The heads of state already met in November 2024 on the sidelines of the climate summit in Baku. At that time, Aleksandr Lukashenko invited his African colleague to visit Belarus.

In March of this year, the leaders discussed the agenda of the visit during a telephone conversa-tion initiated by the President of Guinea-Bissau. As the press service of the Belarusian leader re-ported at the time, the Presidents also discussed a range of bilateral relations and areas in which the parties are interested in developing cooperation.

The discussion on the intensification of cooperation, its main directions and potential continued in the Palace of Independence. The head of the African state was met by the Belarusian leader in the Hall of Ceremonies.
Welcoming the guests, Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention to the fact that the visit of the Guinea-Bissau delegation takes place during a special, solemn time for Belarus, the celebration of the anniversary of the Victory over fascism in the Great Patriotic War and World War II.

The Head of State emphasized that together with Umaro Sissoko Embalo they discussed the prob-lems that exist in the world today, the problems in Belarus and Guinea-Bissau, at various forums. «And we agreed that we will work closely to ensure that the tasks that face us are solved,» he reminded. «We know well the capabilities of your state, your country, your people. I am sure that you have studied our capabilities. We are at your service.»
Aleksandr Lukashenko said that he is aware of Guinea-Bissau needs in developing agriculture. «You probably understand that we are able to provide you with appropriate technological and technical support and services. You can count on us in this regard,» he assured.

By the way, the delegation’s schedule included a visit to leading Belarusian enterprises, where the guests were shown new samples of products manufactured there. «We are open to supplying your country with food, industrial products, clothing, footwear — everything that people need,» stressed Aleksandr Lukashenko. «We have no closed topics for cooperation, we are ready to ne-gotiate in all areas, including if you are interested in our military-industrial complex. In short, Belarus is open to you.»

Umaro Sissoko Embalo thanked the Belarusian leader for his hospitality. «I have friends who work here, who studied here. We know that Belarus has accumulated vast experience not only in the military sphere, but also in the agro-industrial complex. And we would like to use this experi-ence. And, of course, in this way to open a kind of door to the future,» he stressed. Umaro Sis-soko Embalo noted that Belarus and Guinea-Bissau are not so far from each other — only a nine-hour flight by plane. «I really count on cooperation with Belarus, it would be very useful for us. We can develop economic relations at different levels,» said the leader of the African country.

Valeria Stetsko