“Here we are accelerating work in all key areas, the implementation of the Union State Treaty in the next three years. We are giving priority attention to strengthening trade and economic cooperation. In January-July, our mutual trade turnover increased to 2 trillion 355 billion Russian rubles, or 85.5 billion Belarusian rubles,” Mishustin said.
Golovchenko added that the percentage growth in trade turnover was 8.5%. This increase is taking place against the backdrop of a sharp increase in this indicator last year, and it is important that such development is being observed against the backdrop of various external difficulties that the two countries are facing. The Prime Minister of Belarus emphasized that the growing figures prove the correctness of the course taken by Moscow and Minsk.
Mishustin noted that Russia and Belarus, through their governments, are currently actively working to implement the instructions and agreements reached by Presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko on January 29 at the Supreme State Council of the Union State in St. Petersburg.
The Russian Prime Minister pointed out that Moscow and Minsk are also working to strengthen the technological sovereignty of the Union State, relying on 27 joint programs and projects in the field of industrial cooperation. Mishustin emphasized that Golovchenko plays a key role in their implementation. The head of the Belarusian government added that all these programs are aimed at import substitution, not only in hardware, but also in software, which is receiving close attention.
In addition, Russia and Belarus cooperate a lot in the humanitarian sphere. The Prime Minister of the Russian Federation cited the youth forum of the Union State held in Minsk on September 25 as an example. In addition, an event on preserving the common history of the two countries is planned to be held in October at the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University (BSU).
Mishustin emphasized that the Union State is the driving force behind integration within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), because Moscow and Minsk are working on the EAEU’s proposals to strengthen freedom of movement of goods, services, and labor in a joint format.
Golovchenko recalled that 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Union State.