By Sergei Khamentovsky: Belarus and Russia have agreed on major cooperation issues, noting the importance of moving forward in terms of integration.
Traditionally, Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin met one-on-one first and then proceeded to expanded format talks. The meeting’s emphasis was placed on the economy and the key aspects of trade and economic activity against the backdrop of the current situation.
One of the main topics on the meeting’s agenda was the need to intensify economic cooperation. Belarus is Russia’s fifth partner in terms of bilateral trade in the world, while Russia’s share in the mutual trade turnover amounts to 50%. It is important to restore the peak turnover figures of 2012, which is over 43 billion dollars. Last year, the bilateral trade turnover reached 37.5 billion dollars.
Economic difficulties in the world require coordinated action, therefore Russia supported the bailout plan proposed by the Belarusian side, which contains mechanisms of coherent macroeconomic, industrial and financial policies and spells out the removal of existing barriers to mutual trade. A special place on the agenda belonged to the Union State budget 2015, its pre-crisis level of about 5 billion Russian rubles maintained. The allies intend to expand the number of joint programmes. Implementation of integration industrial projects is currently underway. Besides, the parties adopted a Union State roadmap until 2017.
The Presidents discussed integration progress in other areas, including the Eurasian Economic Union, which should remain an example for other integration associations.
The 15th anniversary of the Union State was marked by an award presented to Alexander Lukashenko. Vladimir Putin awarded the Belarusian leader the Order of Alexander Nevsky, which is bestowed to prominent world politicians and public figures, as well as business community representatives for their merits in collaboration with Russia and assistance in the economic and social development.
The Union State Supreme State Council meeting resulted in the signing of four documents governing the relations between Belarus in Russia in the social and migration spheres.
