Belarus, Ukraine discuss cooperation in agriculture, energy, transport

         Gomel hosted a meeting between the delegations of Belarus and Ukraine led by First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko and First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Sergei Arbuzov, co-chairmen of the intergovernmental Belarusian-Ukrainian mixed commission on trade-economic cooperation. The meeting was also attended by First Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Mikhnevich. During the event, Alexander Mikhnevich held talks with First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Ruslan Demchenko.
The parties reviewed the trade and economic cooperation, including in agriculture, transport and energy sectors, industrial cooperation and the issues of establishment of joint ventures in agricultural engineering.
According to Vice Premier Vladimir Semashko, Belarus is ready to buy electricity in Ukraine, provided certain price terms are available.
      Vladimir Semashko noted that Belarus has been buying Ukrainian electricity for the last few years. Technical means are available, the throughput of power lines is sufficient and it is profitable for Belarus under certain economic conditions. “Today we have decided that we are ready to buy about 4 billion kWh. It will be roughly 11-12% of the electricity the national economy consumes, including household needs. It is a very significant figure for us. Therefore we will be pleased to buy it, however, under certain price conditions,” he stressed.