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UFA, 9 July (BelTA) – Belarus and the Republic of Bashkortostan of Russia intend to work out another three-year cooperation program, BelTA learned from Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Igor Petrishenko on 9 July.

The sides believe that opportunities are available for further invigorating this cooperation. “I think we will also add to the three-year program the new approaches that we need from the point of view of expanding joint manufacturing projects, projects for assembling, aftersales service, and maintenance of harvesters, tractors, and other vehicles,” said the diplomat.

Igor Petrishenko pointed out the high level of trade, economic, and investment relations between Belarus and Bashkortostan. In his words, the mutual trade turnover stands at $600 million. Due to shipments of hydrocarbon resources import from Bashkortostan considerably exceeds Belarus’ export to this region of Russia. At the same time Belarus’ export is rather high and is within the $200 million range. Four assembly enterprises have been set up in Bashkortostan. Their products are sold not only locally but all over the entire Volga Federal District. A branch of the Embassy of Belarus has been open in Bashkortostan since 2000. Relations between cities actively develop.

The Ambassador remarked that the sides have created a working group to coordinate interaction between the governments. During the latest session in May the sides inventoried all the aspects of the bilateral relations. “I think it will provide an additional impulse,” said the diplomat.

Igor Petrishenko said that the head of the Bashkortostan administration intends to visit Belarus. The visit may take place in 2016. The previous visit of the kind took place in 2012. It provided a boon to interregional contacts and ties. The sides are also busy working out an agreement between Bashkortostan and Vitebsk Oblast. The agreement is expected to be signed as part of the forum of regions that will take place under the aegis of the heads of state in September.

“Bashkortostan demonstrates very positive attitudes towards cooperation with Belarus. We will surely take advantage of it,” stressed the Ambassador.