Togo’s President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, on Monday received Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov in Lomé, during the latter’s official visit to the Togolese capital.
The trip marks the first official mission to Togo by Belarus’s top diplomat and represents a new milestone in strengthening ties of friendship and cooperation between Lomé and Minsk.
Talks focused on several priority areas, reflecting a shared determination to structure and intensify bilateral cooperation in sectors deemed strategic. The two sides explored partnership opportunities in agriculture, technology, industry and logistics, with the aim of establishing a formal and sustainable framework for collaboration.
Belarus notably seeks to expand its footprint in the maritime sector by leveraging Togo as a gateway to African markets. In this regard, the Port of Lomé, widely recognised as a regional logistics hub, is viewed as a key driver for boosting trade flows.
The discussions also addressed international issues, including the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the promotion of global peace and stability. On these matters, both countries expressed converging positions.
At the conclusion of the visit, two legal instruments were signed: a memorandum of understanding establishing regular consultations between the two countries’ foreign ministries, and a visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports.
These commitments underscore the shared intention to consolidate the institutional foundations of Togolese-Belarusian cooperation and elevate their partnership to a higher level.
RNK/te/lb/as/APA