Source: CCTV news client
On November 4, local time, at the video conference of the Supreme Council of State of the Russian-Belarusian Union attended by the heads of state of Russia and Belarus, Putin and Lukashenko signed a series of documents such as the decree on the integration of the union countries and the military doctrine of the alliance countries. The leaders of the two countries stressed that they will jointly safeguard the historical and spiritual values and jointly resist interference in the internal affairs of the two countries by external forces.
The Supreme Council of State of the Russian and Belarusian Union States held a video conference on November 4 local time, during which a decree aimed at implementing the integration of the Union States was signed. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attended the meeting.
According to the news released on the website of the Russian president on the 4th, this decree covers 28 industry integration plans, clarifies the basic direction of the implementation of the treaty establishing the Russian-Belarusian Union state from 2021 to 2023, aims to coordinate macroeconomic strategies, introduce unified tax principles, implement common policies in the financial credit and banking, industrial and agricultural fields, and unify the oil, gas, electricity and transport service markets.
Putin said at the video conference that the implementation of these industry integration plans will help Russia and Belarus create an equal and unified business environment. The two economies operate on the basis of mutually agreed rules and norms, which will have a positive impact on the future economic development of the two countries. He said full economic integration would not be possible without a unified immigration and visa policy.
Putin also said that the establishment of an alliance state means not only economic integration, but also greater coordination between the two sides in all other areas, including politics and defense. Putin stressed the importance of creating a stable and secure atmosphere on the external borders of the two countries, saying that Russia and Belarus will jointly resist any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign countries.
Lukashenko said the signing of the decree marks another important step in the road to establishing a coalition state between Russia and Belarus, which has withstood the test of external pressure and the Russian-Belarusian alliance is becoming stronger.
Putin and Lukashenko had a telephone conversation after the meeting of the Supreme Council of State of the Russian-Belarusian Union on the same day to exchange views on the outcome of the meeting, holding that the relevant decisions are of strategic significance to the integration process and that the two countries will further strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields of mutual benefit.
On December 8, 1999, Russia and Belarus signed the Treaty establishing the Russian-Belarusian Union States, which stipulates that the two countries shall establish a state of confederation while maintaining their respective national sovereignty, independence and state institutions. (Reporter Song Yiping)