An official dinner reception has been hosted on behalf of President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in honor of President Ilham Aliyev.

During the reception, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko presented President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev with the highest award of his country – the “People’s Friendship” Order of Belarus.

Addressing the ceremony, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said he was glad to see the head of the Azerbaijani state in the country again. Alexander Lukashenko said that regular meetings at the highest level had become a good tradition, while the Belarusian-Azerbaijani partnership based on fraternal ties between the two nations was also supported by friendly relations between the heads of state.

“The relations between Azerbaijan and Belarus are stable, mutually beneficial, extremely friendly and trusting,” Alexander Lukashenko said and added that the two countries were strategic partners and the President of Azerbaijan has played an important part in that.

Appreciating Azerbaijan’s support for his country, the President of Belarus said that President Ilham Aliyev was a worthy successor of nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev. “Ilham Heydar oglu, from my point of view, is an undisputed leader and patriot of Azerbaijan,” President Alexander Lukashenko said. He noted that for a significant personal contribution to the establishment and development of friendly relations and strategic cooperation between the two states, the President of Azerbaijan was being decorated the highest award of Belarus – the “People’s Friendship” Order of Belarus, and presented the Order to President Ilham Aliyev.

Expressing his appreciation to President Alexander Lukashenko for the high award and kind words, President Ilham Aliyev said that he regarded the award as an assessment of his work. President Aliyev said that Azerbaijan-Belarusian relations are based on a solid foundation of mutual sympathy and centuries of cooperation between the two nations.

The President expressed his appreciation to Belarus for its active support of Azerbaijan’s candidacy during the UN Security Council vote.

“Today, we are building a modern relationship between Belarus and Azerbaijan based on friendship, strategic partnership, mutual support, sincerity and sympathy,” President Ilham Aliyev said. He added that trade between the two countries was growing, there were new initiatives in the industry, energy and humanitarian cooperation. The head of state reiterated his appreciation for the hospitality.