Photo courtesy of the Council of the Republic
MINSK, 25 April (BelTA) – The leaders of Belarus and Russia, Aleksandr Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin, are the driving force behind the successful development of bilateral relations, Sergei Aleinik, Chairman of the Standing Commission on International Affairs and National Security of the Council of the Republic, emphasized at the 16th meeting of the Interparliamentary Commission on Interregional Cooperation of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus and the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia. The meeting was held in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast, BelTA has learned.
The Belarusian delegation was headed by Chairman of the Standing Commission on International Affairs and National Security of the Council of the Republic Sergei Aleinik. The Russian side was represented by Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Yury Vorobyov.
In his speech, Sergei Aleinik highlighted the successful development of Belarusian-Russian relations. He noted that the commission’s meeting placed particular emphasis on economic ties and interregional cooperation. Despite external challenges, trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Russia continues to grow dynamically, with bilateral trade turnover reaching nearly $55 billion in 2025.
Cooperation between Belarusian and Russian regions is gathering pace. A total of 89 intergovernmental agreements have been signed with 80 Russian regions, alongside around 450 direct agreements between individual regions. As a result, more than 10,000 Belarusian and Russian enterprises are now tied together through long-term production cooperation.
The parliamentarian underscored that the president of the Republic of Belarus places great emphasis on cooperation with Russia’s regions and meets with the heads of its constituent entities. He recalled Aleksandr Lukashenko’s remarks made before the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly in March 2025, in which the president stated that “the flywheel of comprehensive interaction with the regions has been fully set in motion.”
Sergei Aleinik welcomed the commission’s growing geographic scope, with the spotlight now on Brest Oblast and Moscow Oblast as models of cooperation. “Today we are working in Moscow Oblast, in Krasnogorsk. This town and the entire region rightfully occupy a special place in Belarusian-Russian relations. In recent years Moscow Oblast has ranked first in trade turnover with the Republic of Belarus.”
Over 120 enterprises with Belarusian capital are registered and active in Moscow Oblast, including all of Belarus’ major machinery manufacturers: MTZ, MAZ, Gomselmash, Amkodor, and others.
The Interparliamentary Commission is vested with special powers, including conducting parliamentary monitoring of agreements reached during the Belarus-Russia Forums of Regions and facilitating the development of interregional cooperation. In this context, Sergei Aleinik emphasized that interregional cooperation ranks among the top priorities of the Council of the Republic. He also spoke about preparations for the 13th edition of the Belarus-Russia Forum of Regions to be held in Minsk and Minsk Oblast under the theme “Economic cooperation between regions as the foundation for sustainable development of Belarus and Russia”. The forum is intended to further strengthen and expand ties between the regions of both countries and give a fresh impetus to trade and economic cooperation.
The parliamentarian noted the traditionally high interest in participating in this forum. He expressed confidence that this year will be no exception in this regard.
Other Belarusian speakers included Chairman of the Brest Regional Council of Deputies Igor Brilevich, First Deputy Minister of Architecture and Construction Vladimir Naumovich, and Deputy Industry Minister Leonid Ryzhkovsky. Members of the Interparliamentary Commission welcomed progress in cooperation between Moscow Oblast and the Republic of Belarus and identified promising avenues for further cooperation.
Photos courtesy of the Council of the Republic
Follow us on:
