CHOLPON ATA, 25 August (BelTA) – Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin met with Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko and among other things mentioned what the best response to Western sanctions against Belarus and Russia will be, BelTA has learned.
Mikhail Mishustin said: “We pay close attention to the enhancement of Belarus-Russia relations. They rely on principles of partnership and alliance. Our brotherly nations are connected by many years of friendship and mutual understanding. We are interested in taking our cooperation to new heights and in forming common economic and social space within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. It will be the best response to the illegal sanctions we face.”
The main directions of realization of the Union State Foundation Treaty and the 28 Union State programs, which were approved by the Supreme State Council involving the heads of state in November 2021, represent a reliable foundation for joint work. “The governments have organized systemic work on realizing the integration agreements. Colleagues cooperate effectively. Nearly half of the 989 steps and measures have been fulfilled. We monitor it with assistance of the relevant legal and technological systems,” the Russian prime minister noted.
Today the West is cranking up the pressure of sanctions against Belarus and Russia, Mikhail Mishustin pointed out. “Unfriendly countries intend to cut us off from logistic chains and the international financial system, paralyze manufacturing ties and ultimately worsen the quality of life of our citizens. In these conditions we suggest stepping up coordinated measures for the sake of protecting economic security and technological sovereignty both of Russia and Belarus,” he stated.
Mikhail Mishustin drew attention to the importance of stepping up the dynamics of trade and economic cooperation. “We continue realizing major investment projects, accelerate the launch of new initiatives. We will further enhance the mechanism of supplies of goods and services, expand our import substitution programs. We pay close attention to practical cooperation in manufacturing sector, power engineering, digital economy, agriculture, transport, and other branches. The organization of transit shipments of Belarusian exports via Russia's territory represents a good example of our interaction,” he said.
The latest forum of regions of Belarus and Russia, which took place in Grodno, gave a powerful impulse to the advancement of cooperation, too.
In January-June 2022 Belarus-Russia trade was close to $20 billion, 12.2% up from H1 2021. Export to Russia amounted to $9.097 billion, 23.1% up.
Belarus-Russia trade in services amounted to $2.4399 billion, 20.3% up from January-June 2021. Belarus exported $1.569 billion worth of services, 22.4% up, and secured a surplus of the foreign trade in services.
As many as 2,240 enterprises with Russian capital operate in Belarus. As of 1 January 2022 the Russian Federation was home to 113 entities of the distribution network of Belarusian organizations with a share of Belarusian capital or with a Belarusian capital share in the charter capital.
