An archive photo
MOSCOW, 6 March (BelTA) – Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Yuri Seliverstov met with Russia’s Smolensk Oblast Governor Vasily Anokhin in Moscow on 6 March, BelTA has learned.
Following the meeting, the ambassador described the talks as highly productive. “We have many topics on the agenda. Traditionally, these are matters concerning the supply of engineering and machinery products. There is a lot of our equipment in Smolensk Oblast already, but we need to improve the quality of its maintenance,” he stated.
The diplomat specified that Belarusian autonomous buses have entered service in Smolensk. “There aren’t many of them yet, and our colleagues want to increase the use of such vehicles. Other issues related to equipment and tires were also discussed, with the idea of establishing what you might call a tire hub,” he elaborated.
The meeting also addressed expanding the use of the region’s tourism potential. “The presidents of our countries have set tasks to increase tourism’s contribution to GDP,” Yuri Seliverstov recalled. “It must be said, this is not only about economic matters but also about the convenience and comfort for our citizens.”
“We see great prospects for cooperation. We have agreed to meet again in about a month, this time in Smolensk Oblast, to see firsthand how the understandings we discussed today are being implemented in the region,” the ambassador summarized.
For his part, Governor Vasily Anokhin noted a growth in trade with Belarus. “Despite all the difficulties, restrictions, and obstacles sometimes created by our pseudo-partners, our trade is growing: based on the results of 2025, it increased by more than 8% and nearly reached a historic mark of $3.5 billion,” he said.
“We have a number of key projects in industry, agriculture, and the expansion of distribution networks, including for Belarusian goods that are in demand in our region and across the Russian Federation,” Vasily Anokhin detailed.
Speaking about tourism development, the governor recalled that the establishment of a Union State Information and Tourism Center in Smolensk had recently been approved. “We plan for it to become a focal point, primarily for organizing joint tourist destinations and package tours for residents of both the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, as well as for other guests visiting Smolensk. The goal is to enable people to use single package tours and, within a week, visit Smolensk Oblast, Vitebsk Oblast and Mogilev Oblast, as well as Minsk and other regions, thus forming cross-border tourist routes. This will be greatly facilitated by the important decision of the leadership of Belarus and Russia to launch seamless railway connections between Smolensk and Vitebsk, and between Smolensk and Orsha,” Vasily Anokhin added.
Following the meeting, the ambassador described the talks as highly productive. “We have many topics on the agenda. Traditionally, these are matters concerning the supply of engineering and machinery products. There is a lot of our equipment in Smolensk Oblast already, but we need to improve the quality of its maintenance,” he stated.
The diplomat specified that Belarusian autonomous buses have entered service in Smolensk. “There aren’t many of them yet, and our colleagues want to increase the use of such vehicles. Other issues related to equipment and tires were also discussed, with the idea of establishing what you might call a tire hub,” he elaborated.
The meeting also addressed expanding the use of the region’s tourism potential. “The presidents of our countries have set tasks to increase tourism’s contribution to GDP,” Yuri Seliverstov recalled. “It must be said, this is not only about economic matters but also about the convenience and comfort for our citizens.”
“We see great prospects for cooperation. We have agreed to meet again in about a month, this time in Smolensk Oblast, to see firsthand how the understandings we discussed today are being implemented in the region,” the ambassador summarized.
For his part, Governor Vasily Anokhin noted a growth in trade with Belarus. “Despite all the difficulties, restrictions, and obstacles sometimes created by our pseudo-partners, our trade is growing: based on the results of 2025, it increased by more than 8% and nearly reached a historic mark of $3.5 billion,” he said.
“We have a number of key projects in industry, agriculture, and the expansion of distribution networks, including for Belarusian goods that are in demand in our region and across the Russian Federation,” Vasily Anokhin detailed.
Speaking about tourism development, the governor recalled that the establishment of a Union State Information and Tourism Center in Smolensk had recently been approved. “We plan for it to become a focal point, primarily for organizing joint tourist destinations and package tours for residents of both the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, as well as for other guests visiting Smolensk. The goal is to enable people to use single package tours and, within a week, visit Smolensk Oblast, Vitebsk Oblast and Mogilev Oblast, as well as Minsk and other regions, thus forming cross-border tourist routes. This will be greatly facilitated by the important decision of the leadership of Belarus and Russia to launch seamless railway connections between Smolensk and Vitebsk, and between Smolensk and Orsha,” Vasily Anokhin added.
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