MINSK, April 3. /TASS/. Belarus and Russia have considerably intensified bilateral cooperation amid the complicated geopolitical situation, and Minsk's contacts with Russian regions have made a significant contribution to this, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday at a meeting with Kaluga Region Governor Vladislav Shapsha.

"Our countries, Russia and Belarus, have become much closer to each other in recent years, and we can say it openly. And not only through our relations at the highest political level, but, as always, through our contacts with the Russian regions," the BelTA news agency quoted Lukashenko as saying. He pointed out that the two countries had begun to "work much more closely at the level of governments, businesses and organizations, seeking solutions to the current difficult situation, which has united the people and made them stronger."

The president stressed that a significant contribution to the record trade turnover between the countries in 2022 ($50 billion) was also due to the implementation of agreements with the heads of Russian regions. According to him, the dynamics of contacts with the Kaluga Region was not an exception here, "they have not been stopped for a single day, and thanks to that a certain reserve has been created."

In his turn, Shapsha said that Belarus was a very reliable partner for the Kaluga Region, which implemented projects in the industrial, agricultural, scientific, educational and cultural spheres. The governor stressed that the delegation flew the first regular flight from Kaluga International Airport to Minsk after a long break (flights are carried out by the Russian airline Severstal - TASS). "We ask you to support our initiative, if there is such a possibility, to organize a counter flight of the Belarusian airline to Kaluga. It is in great demand among our residents today," Shapsha said.