Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko offers new areas of cooperation to Russia’s Novosibirsk Oblast

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MINSK, 10 October (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko suggested joining efforts to Russia’s Novosibirsk Oblast in artificial intelligence and unmanned aircraft systems as he met with Governor of this Russian region Andrei Travnikov in Minsk on 10 October, BelTA has learned.

Cooperation with Novosibirsk is currently based on supplies of agricultural and mining equipment, the president said.

“We know, however, that the area of activity is much wider here. We have an opportunity to help you solve issues with the renewal of the passenger transport and other equipment,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. He cited the modernization of trams at the facilities set up by Belkommunmash in Novosibirsk Oblast as a good example of such industrial cooperation.

Since Novosibirsk is, in fact, the administrative center of Siberia, the project, according to the Belarusian leader, can and should be scaled up to meet the needs of other regions for mutual benefit.

In this regard, the president instructed the government to make sure that Belarus was represented by a high-level official in the joint body that is engaged in the development of trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Novosibirsk Oblast.

According to the head of state, Belarus has now set a course to structure its opportunities in Russia. “Today the demand for Belarus is big, but we are not very big as a country. Therefore, we need to decide on the centers, through which we will be working with the Russian Federation,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. One of such centers will be located, for example, in Novosibirsk, given the geographical location and importance of this region. “Novosibirsk is half of Russia, at least beyond the Urals. Therefore, our interests should be concentrated here, and not only in the direction of Novosibirsk, but the entire Siberian region. We will make the corresponding decision in the government in the near future and will start developing a center of competences and a center of trade in Novosibirsk to work in the vast space of the Russian Federation (I know you will support this),” the president added.

Belarus’ main exports to the Russian region comprise food products and agricultural raw materials. “I am sure that by cooperating in the agro-industrial sector - from rural construction to biotechnology - we will be able to do much more than we are doing now,” the president said. “The same is true about science and education. After all, it is no coincidence that Novosibirsk, which is home to a branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and nearly a hundred institutes, research centers and universities, is unofficially called the scientific and student capital of Siberia.”

The scientists of Belarus and the Russian region have always maintained close ties. There is interaction, plans and projects, but, according to the president, the parties need to accelerate and fill them with specific contents. “For example, we can join our efforts in promising, very important new areas, which are artificial intelligence and unmanned aircraft systems, taking into account the tasks of import substitution and technological sovereignty with a view to advanced development,” the head of state said.

In terms of humanitarian and cultural cooperation, Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed gratitude to the head of the Russian region for the performance of the Siberian Russian Folk Choir in Minsk. “Belarusians love this choir and talented performances and are always happy to welcome guests,” the president said. He instructed to take a serious approach to the organization of the Days of Belarus in  Novosibirsk Oblast in autumn 2024. The Days of Culture of Novosibirsk Oblast in Belarus are due to take place in spring 2024.

“We have every opportunity to considerably increase trade and strengthen ties in science and education, humanitarian and other areas,” the Belarusian leader emphasized. “I guarantee you that all our agreements will be unconditionally fulfilled, in full and in time.”

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