Events

MINSK, 11 August (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia’s Bryansk Oblast should make the transition from simple merchandise trade to more advanced cooperation. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the statement as he met with Bryansk Oblast Governor Alexander Bogomaz on 11 August, BelTA has learned.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, cooperation in agricultural affairs can become an important direction in partnership with the Russian region. The President pointed out that in addition to simply selling its machines, vehicles or other products Belarus is ready to take this cooperation to a whole new level. “For instance, let’s talk about animal breeding business, science as applied to agriculture. I believe we should switch from simple exchange [of commodities] to more advanced cooperation across the board, including in agriculture,” believes the head of state. “We are ready to share everything we have with you because we are neighbors and we are very much interested in the intensive development of Pskov Oblast, Smolensk Oblast, and Bryansk Oblast. It indicates our involvement in the development of agriculture and the industrial sector of the Russian Federation. It also indicates what we can do for Russians,” said the head of state.

“I would also like to suggest a more comprehensive approach to the development of our cooperation. We are ready to participate in an integrated manner in the projects you are implementing in Bryansk Oblast,” said Alexander Lukashenko. “In the end we should take joint economic actions in order to benefit us and Bryansk Oblast.”

The Belarusian head of state concluded: “I would like your visit to focus on discussing prospects of our cooperation — cooperation at a higher level instead of some simple exchange of commodities. We certainly cannot do without merchandise trade but we should also make products of a very high level in order to sell them together not only in the ex-USSR but at least in Eastern Europe.”