MINSK, 25 February (BelTA) - Russia is set to continue progressive movement towards mutually beneficial equal integration with Belarus within the framework of the Union State, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of the Union State Supreme State Council in Minsk, BelTA has learned.
The Russian President also expressed confidence that Belarus shares the same spirit. Since the Union State was founded, much has been achieved. For example, the two countries have boosted trade, bolster economic ties, strengthened cooperation in science, education and culture and built the legal framework of cooperation in various areas. “Successful Belarusian-Russian experience has had an impact on the integration processes in the entire CIS. The achievements have been actively used in the Customs Union, the Single Economic Space and, finally, the Eurasian Economic Union,” Vladimir Putin noted.
The Russian President believes that interregional cooperation can yield higher benefits for the economic relations. In 2015 Belarus hosted more than 40 delegations of Russian regions. Vladimir Putin thanked the Belarusian counterpart for his great attention to interregional cooperation and confirmed his plans to attend the Third Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia due in Minsk in June.