MINSK, April 2. /TASS/. Belarus and Russia have succeeded, in spite of the challenging external environment, in avoiding a production downturn and in sustaining strong employment levels and a dynamic pace of economic development, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said in his congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Russia-Belarus Unity Day, the Belarusian leader’s press service said.

"Despite the challenging external environment, we have succeeded in preventing a slump in production, and in maintaining employment levels and the pace of economic development. Competitive innovative products are being manufactured, and high-tech projects are being implemented in the nuclear power, automotive and machine-tool industries as well as in the transport sector," Lukashenko noted. The share of domestic components and developments is on the rise. The two countries are step by step penetrating new markets. A course is being followed toward reducing costs and improving the quality of Union State goods and services, the Belarusian president said. The countries are confidently moving "toward scientific and technological sovereignty and finding the required reserves for further development," he noted.

Material results are visible not only in conventional industries, the Belarusian leader said. "Real successes, actual breakthroughs have been achieved in such highly complex, research-intensive areas as materials science, aircraft engineering, microelectronics and space exploration. A Belarusian cosmonaut is working at the International Space Station for the first time in the history of independent Belarus," he added.