MINSK, 6 June (BelTA) – Regional ties between Belarus and Russia is a priority in the Belarusian-Russian cooperation and a foundation for the whole range of trade, economic, sci-tech, social and cultural relations, runs the final statement of the first Belarus-Russia regional forum held on 5 June, BelTA has learned.
"Strengthening of interregional ties helps address the issues related to the enhancement of the quality and level of life of the people of the two countries, finding new reserves for the development of the common social and economic space of Belarus and Russia," the statement says.
The participants of the forum believe that bilateral cooperation in agriculture has made considerable headway. Good mutual relations have been also established in animal husbandry, crop variety testing, veterinary supervision and melioration.
According to the statement, the signing of the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty opens up new opportunities for cooperation. A new integration format will be used to preserve and augment the best practices in economic regional ties and pursue a coordinated policy in the key economic sectors.
The participants of the forum were unanimous in the need to continue polishing the legal framework of interregional cooperation and fill the existing agreements with concrete economic and investment content. It is also necessary to promote the prompt preparation and coordination of the relevant agreement for the Customs Union member states. It will, among other things, help replace the import of the agricultural produce. Apart from this, the parties should harmonize and unify national legislations in the agro-industrial sector. The statement contains other solutions and decisions which will promote cooperation between the regions of the two countries and between the Troika member states in the agro-industrial sector.
The second Belarus-Russia regional forum will take place in Veliky Novgorod in 2015.