MINSK, 21 June (BelTA) – The schedule of forthcoming meetings of President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko for the sake of discussing Belarus-Russia cooperation was mentioned as the Belarusian head of state met with Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev on 21 June, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “I welcome you in Belarus and am grateful for your coming to attend the opening ceremony of the important event [the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019]. And more than that. We've agreed with the president of Russia that you should take a look at the work of our joint group, which is working on problems in our mutual relations, and should give your conclusion before I meet with Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin].”
In his words, the president of Russia intended to come to Belarus for the closing ceremony of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019. “We will meet and we will talk about it and about other matters. During the forum of regions in your native land [in St Petersburg in mid-July] he and I will go to Valaam to pray. And we will discuss more things over there. This is the approximate plan we had. This is only a draft. Everything will depend on schedules of the presidents, primarily the president of Russia because he has to turn up for G20 [and other events],” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that Dmitry Medvedev's arrival is very important first of all from the point of view of discussing Belarusian-Russian relations. “I'd be happy to discuss some matters you may deem necessary to discuss right now,” the president said. “You are our guest, our close and dear guest. We are one people as Putin says. This is why we are glad to see you here.”
In 2018 Belarus-Russia merchandise trade totaled $35.5 billion, 109.4% as against 2017, with export at $12.9 billion and import at $22.6 billion. In January-April 2019 Belarus-Russia trade amounted to $11.1 billion. In January-March 2019 Russia's share amounted to $1.2 billion or 40.9% of the total volume of foreign investments in Belarus. Belarus maintains economic relations with 80 regions of Russia, including with 70 ones on the basis of intergovernmental agreements on long-term cooperation.
