In January-April 2021, Belarus' export to Russia went up by 17.4% year-on-year, Ambassador of Belarus to Russia Vladimir Semashko said as he attended the Belarus-Asia Forum in Moscow on 9 June, BelTA has learned.

“Russia is Belarus' most important partner and ally,” Vladimir Semashko noted. “We have the centuries-long shared history, close ties between people, similar cultural and moral values and maintain mutually beneficial economic cooperation,” he added.

Russia accounts for almost 50% in Belarus' foreign trade: its share was at 47.9% in 2020. “Belarus places fourth among Russia's major trading partners. Belarusian and Russian companies maintain close ties,” the ambassador said.

“Russia is also the biggest investor in the Belarusian economy. The largest Belarusian-Russian investment project is the construction and commissioning of the Belarusian nuclear power plant in Grodno Oblast,” Vladimir Semashko pointed out.