Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev traveled to the Belarusian capital of Minsk last week to take part in a meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States' (CIS) council of prime ministers to discuss the socio-economic development of member states.

The prime ministers were set to discuss more than 20 documents and decisions regarding development, as well as the countries' cooperation in fields like innovation, healthcare, culture, sports and education, ITAR-TASS reports.

They also planned to sign six international cooperative agreements, including in exchanges of scientific and technical information; transportation safety; topographic and navigational support of the CIS member countries' armed forces; mine-clearing; and a protocol on the introduction of changes to the agreement on cooperation in returning minors to the states in which they are legal permanent residents.

In addition, in order to improve response to natural disasters and industrial emergencies, changes will be introduced for units dispatched to areas to reduce the aftermath of disasters, according to ITAR-TASS.