Ambassador Terentiev underscored the strong Belarusian-Egyptian ties and the promising future of bilateral relations during a press briefing with Egyptian journalists and media representatives on 18 November at the Belarusian Embassy in Giza.

Terentiev highlighted high-level visits as landmark moments in the history of Belarusian-Egyptian relations. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visited Egypt thrice (1998, 2017, and 2020), while President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi first visited Minsk in 2019. Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko's 2024 visit to Egypt also marked another milestone in fostering bilateral cooperation.

Terentiev announced the establishment of a High-Level Commission on Political Dialogue and Bilateral Cooperation, which will include the foreign ministers of both countries. This commission aims to deepen the strategic partnership. He also revealed that an industrial delegation headed by Belarus's first deputy minister of industry is expected to visit Egypt on 25 December to discuss industrial cooperation.

Economic ties
 

Regarding economic ties, Terentiev described Egypt as Belarus’s key partner in the Middle East and Africa, calling it the "gateway to Africa." Despite the global economic crisis, regional instability, and rising logistics costs, bilateral trade reached $150 million before the pandemic, with a trade imbalance favouring Belarus. Belarus traditionally supplies Egypt with metal products, tractors, trucks, agricultural and construction equipment, high-tech products, and dairy products. Meanwhile, Egyptian exports to Belarus include fruits, vegetables, medicines, and textiles.

In 2023, the two countries held several high-level meetings, including the seventh Belarusian-Egyptian Joint Trade Commission session. This session addressed topics like trade, industry, higher education, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and logistics. Terentiev highlighted the potential impact of a Free Trade Agreement between Egypt and the Eurasian Economic Union on strengthening economic ties.

Further collaboration!
 

Educational and technological collaboration also stands out in Belarus-Egypt relations. Both countries have signed agreements to enhance academic exchange, research collaboration, and technology transfer. Belarus is a hub for international education, hosting students from over 100 countries, including Egypt.

Cultural ties have flourished, with events like "Egyptian-Belarusian Relations – Cultural and Civilizational Bridges" held in collaboration with Egypt's Supreme Council for Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event showcased Belarusian history, traditions, and cuisine, receiving positive feedback. Cooperation between the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus and the Cairo Opera House has also expanded, with plans for reciprocal performances in Minsk and Cairo.

Sports cooperation is another area of growth, with efforts underway to organize competitions between the two nations' teams in judo, kickboxing, weightlifting, and sports medicine.

Tourism remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship, with over 100,000 Belarusian tourists visiting Egypt in 2023. Efforts are ongoing to enhance air travel connectivity, including seasonal flights by Belarusian airline Belavia on the Minsk-Alamein route and plans to expand flight destinations.

Ambassador Terentiev concluded: “The aviation ministries of Belarus and Egypt are working on expanding the route map of flights, introducing new destinations, resuming regular flights between our capitals, boosting tourist exchanges, and strengthening ties between our countries.”