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MOSCOW, 28 June (BelTA) – Moscow hosted the Days of Belarusian Science on 27 and 28 June. The Days were held in the run-up to the fourth Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia that will open in the Russian capital on 29 June, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Embassy in Russia.

“The main aim of the Days of Belarusian Science was to bolster the direct ties, step up the exchange of experience in science, technology, and innovations between Belarusian and Russian scientists, promote science as the driving force of innovative economy and emphasize its increasing role in the society, and demonstrate the latest science and technology achievements,” the embassy said.

In his greeting remarks, Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko noted that innovative policy underpins strategic planning for social and economic development both in Belarus and Russia. “The main goal of our countries within the Union State is to develop a common science and technology space with equal opportunities for joint research and projects in priority areas,” he emphasized.

As he opened the plenary session at the business and culture center of the embassy on 28 June, Minister Counselor at the Belarusian Embassy in Russia Yuri Yaroshevich said that science is one of those locomotives pushing forward the development of integration processes in the post-Soviet space, making a serious contribution to the strengthening of the Union State, the Eurasian Economic Union and the CIS.

According to the diplomat, the best example of the successful cooperation of the two countries in science is the project to build the Belarusian nuclear power plant. It is Russia’s largest investment project in Belarus.

“The palette of the achievements of Belarusian scientists is diverse. It includes a new generation of lasers, a series of unique medicines, cutting-edge developments in organ transplantation (Belarus ranked 10th in the world in terms of organ donation in 2016), the technology for growing red emeralds which is unmatched in the world, and many more,” the diplomat said.

Chairman of the Belarusian State Science and Technology Committee Alexander Shumilin opened the exhibition of Belarus’ scientific achievements over the past five years. He stressed that the scientific, technical, and innovative cooperation between Belarus and Russia has had a substantial positive impact on the development of the countries’ social, cultural, and economic relations. He said that the programs carried out in the Union State represent one of the most effective forms of bilateral cooperation.

An agreement was reached during the Days of Belarusian Science to develop a new space program “Integration-Union State” to be sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Russian space agency Roscosmos, Alexander Shumilin said. Besides, Belarusian and Russian scientists will start developing a new Union State program entitled “Regenerative Medicine” in the near future. Sponsored by the Belarusian and Russian healthcare ministries, the program is set to design at least three new biomedical cell products.

The plenary session was also attended by Sergei Chizhik, First Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Piotr Vityaz, head of the NASB Office, and Oleg Rummo, the head of the National Research Center for Organ and Tissue Transplantation.

On 27 June, the business and culture center of the Belarusian embassy hosted a meeting “Belarus and Russia: inter-university integration in science” which focused on the development of cooperation between Belarusian and Russian institutions of higher education in science, technology, education and innovation.