Moldovan Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu held a meeting with Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasknikovich on 25 June. The event took place on the sidelines of Lupu's official visit to Minsk, the parliament's communication and public relations department has reported. The officials discussed prospects for creating joint transnational enterprises to produce goods and provide services, so as to create new jobs. They particularly talked about joint Moldovan-Belarusian ventures to assemble tractors, trolley buses and agricultural machines in Moldova. The Belarusian delegation also displayed interest in the creation of a joint winery, since 80 per cent of the wine in bulk is imported from Moldova. Myasknikovich welcomed Lupu to Minsk, praising his special role in the development of the Moldovan-Belarusian relations. He said that Moldova ranks fifth among Belarus's top trade partners from the CIS. For its part, Belarus ranks fourth among Moldova's top trade partners. The officials saluted the positive dynamic of trade operations between the two countries. Myasknikovich emphasized that the governments and parliaments are tasked to create favourable and attractive conditions for the development of the Moldovan-Belarusian economic relations. The prime minister said that Belarus would be interested to invest in the creation of a joint venture to produce hybrid maize seeds, as well as fruits ad sugar beet. The officials pointed to the importance of creating a legal framework to secure the implementation of such projects. Lupu said that the strategic partnership, mutual support and the traditional friendship relations that have strengthened in time are the most eloquent features of the Moldovan-Belarusian dialogue. Marian Lupu welcomed Belarus's intention to launch investment projects in Moldova in mutually advantageous sectors, specifying that he would discuss and monitor these issues with the Moldovan government's leadership. He outlined the need for the Belarusian and Moldovan authorities to keep permanently in touch, including at the regional level. The sides also hailed the active role of the Moldovan community in Belarus and of the Belarusian community in Moldova. Myasknikovich welcomed the active presence of the representatives of the Moldovan diaspora in Belarus at a recent festival of national minorities held in Belarus's Grodno. Lupu noted the significant contribution of the Belarusian community to the consolidation of Moldova's multiethnic society, which promotes a respectful attitude towards the culture, language and traditions of every ethnic group settled down in Moldova. The officials discussed humanitarian and education issues as well. The Belarusian prime minister praised the Code on Innovation and Science of the Moldovan Academy of Science, noting that Belarusian specialists had taken over a number of elements from it. At the end of the meeting, Marian Lupu and Mikhail Myasnikovich expressed mutual openness and willingness to maintain a positive dynamic in the Moldovan-Belarusian cooperation in sectors of common interest.