Comment by the Information and Press Department on Foreign Minister of Belarus Vladimir Makei’s visit to Russia
Foreign Minister of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Makei will pay a working visit to Russia on February 21-22, 2017 at the invitation of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
During the talks on February 21, the foreign ministers will discuss the most pressing issues of Russia-Belarus cooperation, including their contribution to the operation of the EAEU and CSTO, their interaction within the UN, the OSCE, as well as European security. The sides will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Belarus is Russia's strategic ally. In June 2017, we will mark 25 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries. Since then, the bilateral integration process has led to the establishment, on December 8, 1999, of the Union State, which operates in accordance with the Priority Areas and Primary Medium-Term (2014-2017) Development Tasks of the Union State, approved in March 2015.
The foreign ministers of Russia and Belarus maintain their interaction based on programmes of concerted actions in the sphere of foreign policy of the states that are parties to the treaty establishing the Union State, which are adopted every two years. Joint sessions of the foreign ministries’ boards are held on a regular basis.
Russia-Belarus trade amounted to US $26.1 billion in 2016. Belarus ranks fourth in terms of trade with Russia internationally and first among the CIS countries. A significant portion of mutual trade settlements is made in national currencies.
The construction of a 2,400 MW Belarusian nuclear power station based on post-Fukushima technology is the largest bilateral investment project.
Fast-growing region-to-region cooperation plays a major role in Russia-Belarus relations. More than 80 Russian regions maintain trade and economic relations with Belarus. In June 2017, Moscow will host the Fourth Regional Forum dedicated to promoting comprehensive regional integration between the two countries in the sphere of high technology, innovation and an information society.
Contacts between our two countries in the sphere of education, scientific research and culture are strongly intensifying. Festivals such as Flowers of Russia in Minsk and Slavic Bazaar in Vitebsk highlighted the cultural life of the two countries in 2016. Minsk hosted Days of Moscow and Days of St Petersburg and Russia, in turn, hosted Days of Culture of Belarus. A number of research and technology projects are being carried out at the expense of the Union State budget.
