Belarus Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich met with various  French diplomats on Thursday and discussed the possiblity of increasing joint ventures between the two countries. 

The prime minister lamented that only 48 joint ventures existed with French business, contrasted with the number of joint ventures with Germany, 361, with trade turnover at $4.8 billion. 

Belarusian and French relations have improved, specifically over the past few months, but Myasnikovich feels they could be doing more.

“But we could secure much better figures both in trade turnover and the establishment of joint ventures," he said. "I welcome trade cooperation but joint ventures and joint-stock companies can foster investment cooperation and innovation cooperation. And the most important consideration is that these processes will be irreversible due to the commonality of interests of our countries.”

The discussion also brought to light the benefits of an intergovernmental commission to oversee and facilitate trade operations between France and Belarus.