Vladimir Putin's speech: 

We have just discussed to the minutest detail the problems of our trade and economic cooperation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. We have reviewed both the current situation and the prospects. We have built special bilateral economic relations, and they benefit both of our economies.

We have advanced much further towards the formation of a customs union with Belarus than with our other partners. We have coordinated almost 100% of our customs tariffs. This is a big step towards the customs union's formation.

Last year, we had a record trade of $34 billion. If we deduct oil- and gas-related items, we will practically have parity in trade for the first quarter of this year, as Mr Sidorsky has just pointed out during the meeting with the Belarusian President. We have practically achieved balance in all other items.

Some issues require additional discussion. You know about our decision to grant Belarus our national treatment in tenders for government purchases. Now the choice will be made in favour of Belarusian manufacturers even if prices on their commodities will be 15% higher than those of other participants in such tenders.

We know about some concerns of our Belarusian partners, which are linked with certain groups of goods which are traditionally present in the Russian market. I am primarily referring to agricultural equipment. We will discuss this in detail today.

You also know about our problems linked with some agricultural products. I am not even talking about meat products - almost 100% of your exports go to the Russian market. But today we have an urgent problem with milk, dairy products, and cheese. In general, these are problems which directly relate to the performance of our companies and the social and economic well-being of our citizens. We must make balanced decisions, which would promote the economic advance of both of our countries.

I think that by and large, the Belarusian economy has been demonstrating good rates during the crisis. It is probably one of the few countries in the CIS, and the rest of Europe, for that matter, in which the GDP is growing - at a rate of 1.2%. The President said that this figure may be even 1.5%, which contrasts with the GDP's decline practically in all other CIS countries.

This attests to the efforts of Belarus to overcome crisis phenomena in the global economy and finances. Now I suggest we start discussing the agenda.