Trade between Belarus and Russia’s Chelyabinsk Oblast is over half a billion dollars, but there is still room for improvement, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a meeting with Chelyabinsk Oblast Governor Aleksei Teksler in Minsk on 11 August, BelTA has learned.
For instance, purchases of BelAZ trucks have slightly declined (compared to previous periods). According to the president, this is a general trend since borrowing costs in Russia have increased, with both loan interest rates and the key rate remaining quite high. “This is a general trend. I believe we will overcome it,” the Belarusian leader added, noting that Belarus had previously supplied significant amounts of this machinery to Chelyabinsk Oblast and it requires regular modernization.
“There is work to be done. I want to assure you that our government will address bottlenecks and expand cooperation,” the head of state emphasized.
Alongside growing trade, fostering humanitarian cooperation and personal ties is equally important, Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed. “People should interact: your people coming to us, ours to you. Though ‘yours’ and ‘ours’ – we have no borders here. We do not divide. We are one. Our homeland extends from Brest to Vladivostok, even if (through no fault of ours) two states emerged. But we find common ground, we cooperate. And we cooperate well,” the president said. “My recent meeting with Vladimir Putin (you’re likely aware) was very productive and useful [the leaders of the two countries met on Valaam on 1 August 2025]. Discussing certain issues, we focused primarily on the future of our relations.”
This future, according to Aleksandr Lukashenko, lies above all in industrial cooperation. Currently, Belarus and the Russian region mutually supply components and a wide range of industrial goods. One key area is the export of Belarusian agricultural machinery. “We should also consider co-producing such equipment. Chelyabinsk Oblast is highly advanced, we can localize many competences related to our machinery. We would be glad to work not just for Chelyabinsk but for neighboring Russian regions too,” the head of state noted.
Discussions also touched on agriculture. The head of state remarked that, surprisingly given Chelyabinsk Oblast’s climate, its agriculture is quite developed. “We, too, have related expertise, specialists, competences and know how to share with our Chelyabinsk friends and to learn from them in return,” the president proposed.
Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that he had outlined only broad areas for deeper cooperation without going into specifics. Each area can develop into multiple sub-programs and projects. “This is the foundation. We can surpass this half-billion [U.S. dollars in mutual trade] and, at this pace, reach a billion within the next five-year period. This is my strong hope. We are deeply interested in this, as we receive vast quantities of materials from Chelyabinsk Oblast, especially metals and other useful goods. We are keen on advancing this cooperation on this front . Know that here in Belarus, on the western edge of our shared homeland, you have good, reliable friends," the president assured.
Trade between Belarus and Russia’s Chelyabinsk Oblast has grown steadily in recent years, rising from $302.3 million in 2020 to $539.8 million in 2024. From January to June this year, bilateral trade between Belarus and Chelyabinsk Oblast reached $230.8 million.
Belarus’s major exports include tires, alloyed and non-alloyed steels, tractor and auto parts, lifting and loading machinery, cheese, cottage cheese and beef. Chelyabinsk Oblast supplied Belarus with steel profiles and rolled products, stone and mineral-based goods, pipeline fittings, ferroalloys and other industrial goods.
Answer:
Dear Shivendu Paul and Metali Listeners' Club,
dthank you for your comment! We'll send you some of our souvenirs ASAP.
Stay tuned and 73,
RBI
Hallo Radio Belarus,
ja der Dieter Leupold ist jetzt auch hier im Gästebuch vertreten... Super, bald sind wir alle zusammen hier im "Belarus Hörerclub", Dieter könnte 1.Vorsitzender werden und Jana und Elena Ehrernmitglieder, Helmut Matt Schriftführer, Alfred Albrecht Beisitzer und ich mache Hausmeister:-) Lutz Winkler wie fit bist Du bereits wieder, für Dich finden wir auch eine nette Aufgabe:-) Beste Grüße und ein schönes Wochenende.
Dietmar
Answer:
Lieber Dietmar,
das stimmt, für alle finden wir im Hörerklub eine Aufgabe!:)
Liebe Grüße und einen guten Start in die Woche!
I recently learned my surname is not Polish, but Belarusian. I heard you on shortwave in the past and am so happy to listen online in English. We hear nothing about Belarus here in the US so I am so glad to learn about your country. Keep on broadcasting in English. I also joined the Hoererklub on Facebook as I can understand German. If you have information or a station pennant, I will very much appreciate it.
Sheryl Paszkiewicz, 1015 Green St, Manitowoc WI 54220 USA
Answer:
Dear Sheryl, thank you very much for listening to us! We'll send you some of our souvenirs as soon as we can. By the way, if you're interested, you can participate in our "The Old Country's Loving Call" project and send a greeting to Belarus. You can find more detailed information at http://www.radiobelarus.by/en/content/hukaje_eng
Also, in case you like sports, here's the link to an international competition of ours "My Greetings to 2nd European Games" http://www.radiobelarus.by/en/content/games_eng
73 from the entire staff of RBI! Прывiтанне з Малой Радiзмы :)
Hello from Birmingham United Kingdom!
My name is Michael.
I really enjoyed listening to your program on the Hotbird satellite 13e. I very much love listening to your news and current affairs.
Ask you to send me a small gifts. I hope you guys are all good.
Lots of love from UK
Especially enjoying learning about Belarus. History and culture
Michael Rogers
Flat 2 463 City road Birmingham
B17 8LG
United Kingdom
Answer:
Michael,
thank you very much for listening to us! We're glad that you enjoy our programs. We'll send you some of our souvenirs as soon as we can. Best regards and stay tuned!
Hello. I am a new listener to your English service. I listen on the Radio 1 News app. I enjoyed listening to the news. Do you have any information on shortwave broadcasts you can send me?
Thank you,
Joe Cosimo
23 Ivy Ln, Dupont, PA 18641 U.S.A.
Answer:
Dear Joe, thank you for listening to Radio Belarus International! We're glad that you enjoyed our news. RBI broadcasts on shortwave only in German on 6005 and 3985 kHz. News and programs in English are available via our website and satellites. We'll also send you a postcard and a small souvenir as soon as we can. 73!
Hello,
My name is Younes Lazazi, I am from Algeria.
I am very happy that radio Belarus has started broadcasting in Arabic.
I would like to receive stickers and printed matter of the station and the Arabic and french services if possible.
My address:
Monsieur Younes Lazazi 14 rue Maza Boualem El-Harrach 16009 Alger Algérie
Thank you.
Answer:
Dear Younes Lazazi,
we're happy that you like our boradcasts. We'll send you some of our printed materials via mail in the nearest future. 73!
Dear English Service Radio Belarus,
Greetings to all staff and listeners of English Service of Radio Belarus. We listen your webcast program. Your program quality is very nice. Your website is colorful & documented. We liked your programs, News, and Current Affairs Program. We are interested about Culture, life style of Belarusian people, historical places, Tourist attraction and destination of Belarus.
Please send some program schedule, sticker, view card, Promotional items of Radio Belarus for our club members and students.
We are waiting for your reply.
With best wishes,
SHIVENDU PAUL
President
Metali Listeners' Club
India
Answer:
Dear Shivendu Paul,
thank you very much for listening to us! Your club is among our most dedicated listeners. We will send you some of our promotional products as soon as possible. 73!
Hello!
Did the arabic programmes start? I don't see them on your Internetcast schedule page. Thanks!
Answer:
Hello! The Arabic programmes have been on air since October, every Monday. You can see the schedule and listen to them on our Arabic page http://radiobelarus.by/ar
FM transmitters and frequencies:
Rakitnitsa - 106.2 MHz
Hrodna - 95.7 MHz
Svislach - 104.4 MHz
Heraniony - 99.9 MHz
Braslau - 106.6 MHz
Miadzel - 102.0 MHz
Satellite broadcasting:
see satellite parameters here
