Belarus, China to sign contracts worth over 3 bln dollars.

MINSK, March 25 (Itar-Tass) - During a visit to Belarus by Chinese
Vice President Xi Jinping, banks and companies of Belarus and China will
sign joint contracts worth 3.4 billion dollars.
"Contracts worth 3.4 billion dollars will be signed between our banks
and companies," Xi Jinping said at a meeting with business circles of
Belarus and China. He said at the present moment the sides are engaged in
negotiations on the implementation of joint projects in the sphere of
power industry, telecommunications, production of vehicles and
agricultural equipment as well as the development of city infrastructure.
Xi Jinping said last year the two countries managed to withstand the
global financial crisis. Their trade stood last year at 870 million
dollars, declining only by 5.7 percent.
Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, for his part, stated
intentions of his country "to carry out some powerful investment projects"
with the use of Chinese investments. "As president I guarantee full
support and safety of Chinese capital investments in the Belarussian
state," he stressed.
He also noted that he considered a visit to Belarus of representatives
from major Chinese companies "as a proof of active arrival of Chinese
business on the Belarussian market". "We have learned together to overcome
problems and difficulties emerging in the development of our relations,
including trade and economic ties. I am confident that today's meting will
give a new impetus to bilateral trade, credit and investment cooperation,"
he said.
Seven Belarussian-Chinese agreements were signed on Wednesday on the
result of talks between Alexander Lukashenko and Xi Jinping, who is on an
official visit in Belarus. Another ten documents are to be signed on
Thursday after talks with Belarussian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky.

.Ukraine PM visits Moscow to pave way for Ukraine-Russia summit.

KIEV, March 23 (Itar-Tass) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov
is expected to discuss in Moscow on Thursday work on joint agreements that
the Ukrainian side expects to sign during a visit of Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev in Kiev in May.
Azarov said this ahead of the visit, during which he will meet with
Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich
and Vladimir Putin agreed on a visit of the Ukrainian premier in a
telephone conversation earlier.
"The interlocutors discussed issues, which might be resolved during
the official visit to Kiev by the Russian leader," the presidential press
service said.
This will be the first foreign trip of the Ukrainian prime minister
appointed to the post on March 11. Yanukovich visited Moscow on March 5.
Upon his return to Kiev he expressed confidence that the Russian
leadership seeks "to turn a new page" in Russian-Ukrainian relations.
Yanukovich said Russia has demonstrated a bid "to turn a new page in
relations between Ukraine and Russia". "Both Mr. Medvedev and Mr. Putin
aim for turning a new active page in our relations," Yanukovich said. "We
agreed that an official visit of President Medvedev to Ukraine will take
place in the first half of the year. During that visit we will approve a
number of decisions giving us a possibility to increase trade between our
countries, as well as will discuss common moves on fight against the
financial and economic crisis," he added.
He also noted that as soon as Ukraine gets a new government, talks
will begin on gas issues. "There is an understanding that it is necessary
to change relations, including on the issues of gas supply, as well as on
oil issues and on the whole on issues of energy security that alarm
Russia, Ukraine and the European Union," he said, adding that the
economies of Ukraine, Russia and the EU "are linked very strongly".
Prior to leaving for Moscow, Azarov said President Viktor Yanukovich
had set the task to prepare concrete proposals for Medvedev's arrival.
"Working groups are being created in the Ukrainian government and we asked
Russia to set up joint groups and carry out interstate procedures as soon
as possible in order to sign these agreements," the prime minister noted.
Azarov said the talks with the Russian prime minister would touch on
gas cooperation and on a wide range of issues. At the same time, he
recalled that trade turnover between Ukraine and Russia decreased more
than twofold. "Such downfall of trade turnover and our export to Russia is
inadmissible in circumstances where the balance of payment is very
difficult. We are preparing proposals on a wide range of issues that we
intend to discuss with Russia," Azarov said.
In his words, gas cooperation remains the key issue. "Ukraine and
Russia should search for a compromise that would make possible the
development of Ukraine's economy because gas prices are determinative due
to the structure of Ukraine's industry," the prime minister said.
"Someone accuses the government of the fact that we want to buy the
gas pipe. I can calm you down: none needs our gas pipe. That is why we
should talk about gas cooperation and not about any sale," Azarov said.
The Verkhovna Rada approved Yanukovich's nomination of 63-year-old
Azarov for prime minister on March 11. Azarov was born in Kaluga and
graduated from the Moscow State University majoring in geology and
geophysics. He was a Ukrainian parliament deputy and first vice-premier -
finance minister in the Yanukovich government in 2006-2007.
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