OREANDA-NEWS Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and his Belarusian counterpart Roman Golovchenko will discuss the implementation of major joint projects in the financial, industrial, energy, transport, agricultural, digital, cultural and humanitarian spheres in Moscow on Monday.

"Special attention will be paid to deepening integration in the Union State on the basis of the "Main directions for the implementation of the provisions of the Treaty on the Establishment of the Union State for 2024-2026", approved at a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State on January 29, 2024 in St. Petersburg," the press service of the Russian government reported.

The government staff notes that Russia is a leading trading partner of Belarus.

"In 2023, bilateral trade increased by 5.2% (compared to 2022) to $46.5 billion. Russian exports increased by 2.3% to $ 22.6 billion, imports from Belarus increased by 8.1% to $ 23.9 billion," the message says.

The Russian government notes the high level of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries - 25 joint projects have been approved in various fields, trade and economic ties with Belarus are supported by over 80 subjects of the Russian Federation.

"Regular transshipment of Belarusian export cargoes has been established using the Russian transport and logistics infrastructure. In 2023, more than 5.9 million tons of petroleum products and 9.5 million tons of fertilizers from Belarus were transported across Russia to third countries. Investment projects are being implemented to develop the logistics capacities of Belarus in Russian seaports," the government office emphasizes.

The previous meeting of the heads of government of the two countries took place on January 29, 2024 in St. Petersburg.