MINSK, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Belarus seeks to gradually establish a strategic level of cooperation with Zimbabwe and sees significant potential in the development of bilateral ties, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday.
Zimbabwe is an important partner of Belarus in the Southern African region, and Belarus seeks to gradually reach the highest strategic level of cooperation with Zimbabwe, Lukashenko said while meeting his Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The Belarusian leader expressed hope that Mnangagwa's visit will give impetus to the development of bilateral relations.
He stressed that Belarus is ready to help Zimbabwe overcome domestic political and economic difficulties.
Lukashenko added that he will visit Zimbabwe with great pleasure, but before that it is necessary to agree upon and implement several joint projects.
Mnangagwa said Belarus and Zimbabwe have very close ties. "My administration and the people of Zimbabwe consider Belarus as a brotherly country," he added.
