Russian President Vladimir Putin said after a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus on Friday that Russia and Belarus had agreed to go ahead with economic partnership, ITAR-TASS reported.
Putin said enterprises in both countries had started forging technological alliances. For example, the Rosbelavto holdings will incorporate Russia's leading car-makers KamAZ and MAZ.
The Russian president said that Russia and Belarus were creating a joint system of Earth's remote sensing based on GLONASS. This ground complex will be controlled from Minsk.
Putin noted that Russia and Belarus would join efforts in the interests of exploring and conquering the Antarctic under an agreement that was signed on Friday. He added that the Antarctic was a new area of Russia-Belarus cooperation which has environmental, scientific and economic measurements.
Putin said that Friday's meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus adopted the 2013 budget worth almost five billion rubles.
"This budget is aimed at development. If implemented, it will make the economies of Russia and Belarus more competitive," Putin went on to say.
He focused on expansion of humanitarian cooperation. Days of Russian Culture will take place in Belarus in 2013, while Russia will host Days of Belarusian Culture in 2014.
"We are going to mark the 1025th anniversary of adoption of Christianity in Russia in the next few months. Events underlying the spiritual and historical roots linking the people of Russia and Belarus will be held," Putin emphasized.