Belarus-Russia tighter integration seen as effective answer to Western sanctions

MINSK, 2 February (BelTA) – Tighter integration of Russia and Belarus within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia will become an effective answer to illegitimate sanctions. Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin made the statement as he met with Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, BelTA has learned.

Mikhail Mishustin said: “We pay priority attention to reinforcing relations with Belarus in matters of friendship, partnership, and allyship. We are convinced that an increase in integration interaction within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia will become an effective answer to illegitimate sanctions against the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.”

In his words, Belarus-Russia trade and economic cooperation is developing at a good pace. In January-November 2022 Belarus-Russia trade rose by another 10% to nearly $39 billion. Belarus' export is rising fast. It went up by nearly a third to $19.6 billion and exceeded import from Russia for the first time in history.

The sides pay close attention to stepping up manufacturing cooperation in the production sector as well as the development of regional interaction.

“The presidents of Russia and Belarus held profound negotiations on the entire bilateral agenda in Minsk in December 2022. They discussed key matters of Russian-Belarusian cooperation, approved important agreements in the area of energy industry, production sector, and transport infrastructure. It is the job of our governments to fulfill the sketched-out plans,” the Russian prime minister stressed.