Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) welcomes Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko prior to a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Saint Petersburg on December 6, 2018. (SPUTNIK/AFP)
Lukashenko said he and Putin had agreed to adopt decisions on the further strategy of the integration of the two countries.
MINSK, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Tuesday the development and deepening of multifaceted bilateral ties with Russia is an absolute priority of the Belarusian foreign policy.
"Your country is the main strategic partner and ally of Belarus, and the relations between our brotherly peoples are based on the bonds of friendship, good neighborliness and common history", Lukashenko said to Russian Ambassador Dmitry Mezentsev at a ceremony to receive credentials from ambassadors of foreign countries in Minsk.
The Belarusian leader said special consideration is currently given to the issues of the Union State development.
"The Russian president and I agreed to adopt decisions on the further strategy of our integration in the run-up to the landmark date - the 20th anniversary of the Union State Treaty. And we will do it," he added.
On September 3, the Belarusian government submitted a draft action program for the integration of Belarus and Russia to the Belarusian president for approval.
The Treaty on the Creation of a Union State of Russia and Belarus was signed on 8 December 1999. After being ratified by the Russian State Duma and the National Assembly of Belarus, the Treaty and the Union came into effect in January 2000. ■
