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Belarus regards Turkmenistan as strategic partner, vice premier says

Belarus regards Turkmenistan as a strategic partner, Deputy Prime Minister Alyaksandr Kasinets said at Thursday's meeting with the Central Asian country's government delegation.

Belarus is interested in joint oil and gas production projects with Turkmenistan, according to the Belarusian vice premier. "We have advanced technologies, which will make it possible to raise oil production," official information sources quoted him as saying.

The official said that Belarus would like to supply Turkmenistan with foodstuffs, clothing, refrigerators, buses, TV sets and medicines, as well as develop bilateral cooperation in the humanitarian and educational spheres.

Orazmyrat Esenov, Turkmenistan's minister of construction, said that the Central Asian country was ready to buy Belarusian-made agricultural machinery and building materials.

Mr. Kasinets suggested that the two countries should complete the establishment of a bilateral commission on trade and economic cooperation as soon as possible.

Contracts on the supply of tractors, forage harvesters, mowers and other farming machinery, with a total worth of $55 million, were signed by Belarus and Turkmenistan in January and February.

Trade between the countries totaled $15.6 million in 2006, with Belarus' exports amounting to $13.4 million. //BelaPAN