Lukashenko named the main tasks for the development of cooperation in the Union State

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko outlined the main tasks and directions for the development of cooperation within the Union State, both for the current period and for the future. The head of state made relevant statements at a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in St. Petersburg, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.

The head of state stated that based on the results of 2023, the parties will update the historical maximum of trade in goods and services. "Vladimir Vladimirovich mentioned a figure for 10 months – more than $40 billion, but if we take the whole year (goods and services), it will be around $54 billion. This is truly a historical maximum. Achieving high indicators is largely the result of implementing the measures of the 28 union programs, within which fundamental decisions have been made. However, we still need to develop common criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of their implementation," the President noted.

Key issues at the current meeting of the SSC are the reports of the governments on the implementation of the main directions for realizing the provisions of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State for 2021-2023. The agenda also includes the approval of a new program document for the next three-year cycle – for 2024-2026. It envisages the continuation of work on strengthening the single economic space and removing remaining obstacles to trade.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, it is important to strengthen the international positioning of the union, as is being done within the EAEU.

As the main task in the industrial sphere, the President identified the intensification of cooperation in the field of import substitution. A lot has already been done in this regard. "A lot has been done here. We have understood much that we did not understand two years ago. We have not been brought to our knees. On the contrary, we have mobilized and done a lot. Basic intergovernmental agreements have been signed on the recognition of technological operations, on the development of microelectronic technologies, on the design and production of electronic component base, on electronic engineering, and on a unified industrial policy. Yesterday, Vladimir Vladimirovich and I very carefully analyzed these issues using

Alexander Lukashenko also stated the need to eliminate, at all costs, everything that hinders mutual trade, to equalize operating conditions for enterprises, to remove barriers in public procurement, and to lift restrictions on the transit of goods. "These issues are not new, but we still have plenty of rough edges in this regard. I want to specifically note that we have not yet fully resolved the most important issues. This concerns the creation of unified markets for gas, oil, and petroleum products. Now is the time when we can calmly make these decisions. They will be beneficial for both Russia and Belarus," the President said.

According to him, these fundamentally important issues are regularly discussed in negotiations with the President of Russia. "Agreements have been reached. I think that governments need to implement these agreements more actively," Alexander Lukashenko emphasized.

The President also mentioned the logistics of transporting Belarusian export cargo through Russian ports. In this regard, there are proposals to increase the capacity of the Oktyabrskaya Railway in the direction of the ports of St. Petersburg. "Millions of tons of Belarusian cargo have been reoriented from the ports of the Baltic states to St. Petersburg, Murmansk, and Black Sea ports. However, strain still exists. Vladimir Vladimirovich and I discussed this issue about three months ago. We decided that the Oktyabrskaya Railway in the direction of St. Petersburg should work more intensively. At the first stage, it requires both a small amount of money and a small amount of work – to restore the sidings," the Belarusian leader shared the details.

The agenda of the Supreme State Council meeting also includes such important topics as the creation of a union media holding, the resolution of common property issues, and the approval of the strategy for scientific and technological development of the Union State until 2035.

"I am confident that everyone understands how important it is to pursue a coordinated information policy. There is a powerful information confrontation. Many call it a war. But, thank God, we have not yet reached the point of war, even in the media. But the confrontation is serious. I think if we create a proper media holding, taking into account (existing. – Ed. BELTA) trials and errors, it will be a good holding," the head of state noted.

New fresh ideas, and most importantly, breakthrough economic projects and concrete proposals for the development of cooperation are expected from the XI Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, which will be held in Vitebsk in June.

This year, the Union State will mark a number of significant dates. First of all, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State. "These are powerful ideological reasons. We have no right not to use them to promote our values and defend the truth about our common history," the President of Belarus emphasized.

Source: belta.by