00:31Russia: Lukashenko and Putin renew their alliance
Russia: Lukashenko and Putin renew their alliance
Presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko met Friday during the Supreme State Council of the Union State summit in St. Petersburg. The leaders of the Russia-Belarus supranational entity to advance political, economic and social integration will discuss foreign policy, trade and economic cooperation and other joint efforts to strengthen the Union State.
The Russian President said "I believe that this good, kind atmosphere will contribute to positive results at our meeting today." A priority in the agenda will be the 2013 Union State budget, estimated at €121.6 million ($158.8 million). The funds, of which Russia contributes with 65% and Belarus with the remaining 35%, are designed to implement the 38 joint programmes and projects.
In turn, Alexander Lukashenko said that the meeting “It’s very beneficial….a dozen important issues that cannot be solved outside the State Council, the Supreme State Council, (are to be addressed today).”
The two-day St. Petersburg summit will cover a range of discussions, such as cooperation in trade, investment ties, power and energy, culture, science, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and humanitarian aid. Through the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space, Russia and Belarus plan to establish the Eurasian Economic Union by January 1, 2015.
In 2012, bilateral trade between both countries amounted to $43.8 million (€33.8 million), a 9.6% increase from 2011. Belarus has approximately 2,000 companies which run on Russian capital, and both countries are investing on a nuclear power plant project to be developed in Belarus.
00:31NONE
Russia: Lukashenko and Putin renew their alliance
Presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko met Friday during the Supreme State Council of the Union State summit in St. Petersburg. The leaders of the Russia-Belarus supranational entity to advance political, economic and social integration will discuss foreign policy, trade and economic cooperation and other joint efforts to strengthen the Union State.
The Russian President said "I believe that this good, kind atmosphere will contribute to positive results at our meeting today." A priority in the agenda will be the 2013 Union State budget, estimated at €121.6 million ($158.8 million). The funds, of which Russia contributes with 65% and Belarus with the remaining 35%, are designed to implement the 38 joint programmes and projects.
In turn, Alexander Lukashenko said that the meeting “It’s very beneficial….a dozen important issues that cannot be solved outside the State Council, the Supreme State Council, (are to be addressed today).”
The two-day St. Petersburg summit will cover a range of discussions, such as cooperation in trade, investment ties, power and energy, culture, science, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and humanitarian aid. Through the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space, Russia and Belarus plan to establish the Eurasian Economic Union by January 1, 2015.
In 2012, bilateral trade between both countries amounted to $43.8 million (€33.8 million), a 9.6% increase from 2011. Belarus has approximately 2,000 companies which run on Russian capital, and both countries are investing on a nuclear power plant project to be developed in Belarus.