Drones and artificial intelligence. What areas for cooperation did Lukashenko propose to the Novosibirsk region

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko proposed that the Novosibirsk region join forces in the fields of artificial intelligence and unmanned aerial systems. The head of state made this statement at a meeting with the governor of this Russian region, Andrey Travnikov, a BELTA correspondent reports.

Cooperation with Novosibirsk is currently based mainly on the supply of agricultural and quarrying equipment, the President stated.

"But we know that the scope of activity in this area is much broader. We have the opportunity to help you solve problems with the renewal of the passenger transport fleet and other equipment," Alexander Lukashenko noted. He cited the modernization of trams at the facilities created by Belkommunmash in the Novosibirsk region as a good example of such industrial cooperation.

And since Novosibirsk is essentially the administrative center of Siberia, the project, according to the Belarusian leader, can and should be scaled up for mutual benefit, taking into account the needs of other regions.

In this regard, the President instructed the government to ensure that in the joint body responsible for the development of trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and the Novosibirsk region, our country is represented by a high-level official.

As the head of state explained, Belarus has now set a course for structuring its capabilities in Russia. "Today, the demand for Belarus is high, but we ourselves are not very large. Therefore, we need to clearly understand where the centers will be through which we will work with the Russian Federation," said Alexander Lukashenko. One of these centers will be located, for example, in Novosibirsk, given the geographical location and significance of this region. "Without Novosibirsk, there is half of Russia, at least, beyond the Urals. Therefore, our interests should be concentrated here not only in the Novosibirsk direction but also in the entire Siberian region. We will make such a decision in the government in the near future and will very seriously develop, based in Novosibirsk (I know you support this), a center of competence and a trade center in the vast territory of the Russian Federation," the President added.

Traditionally, food products and agricultural raw materials constitute a significant portion of Belarusian exports to the Russian region. "I am confident that by cooperating in the agro-industrial complex – from rural construction to biotechnology – we can achieve much more than we are currently doing," the President emphasized. "Just as in science and education. It is no coincidence that Novosibirsk, where a branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and a total of almost a hundred institutes, research centers, and universities have been operating successfully for a long time, is unofficially called the scientific and student capital of Siberia."

Ties between scientists from Belarus and the Russian region have never been broken; there is interaction, plans, and projects, but all of this, in the President's opinion, needs to be accelerated and filled with specifics, requiring more active actions, including from the Belarusian side. "For example, we can combine our efforts in promising, very important new areas – (fields. – Ed. BELTA) of artificial intelligence and unmanned aerial systems, taking into account the tasks of import substitution and ensuring technological sovereignty with a view to advanced development," the head of state proposed.

Regarding humanitarian and cultural cooperation, Alexander Lukashenko expressed gratitude to the head of the Russian region for the performance of the Siberian Russian Folk Choir in Minsk. "Belarusians love and know this ensemble, they love vibrant, talented performances and are always very happy to welcome guests," the President remarked. In turn, he instructed to take the organization and holding of the Days of Belarus in the Novosibirsk region in the autumn of 2024 seriously. The Days of Culture of the Novosibirsk region in Belarus will be held in the spring of next year.

"We have every opportunity to significantly increase trade figures and strengthen ties in scientific, educational, humanitarian, and other areas," the Belarusian leader stressed. "I guarantee you that all our agreements will be unconditionally fulfilled, and moreover, with high quality and on time."

Source: belta.by