Russia will continue to expand assistance to Lebanon in supplying vaccines, test kits and reagents to fight coronavirus infection, Anton Shalaev, the co-chairman of the bilateral intergovernmental commission from Russia and head of Rosstandart, told TASS.
"At present, the issues of assistance to the Lebanese side as supplies of the Sputnik V vaccine and ventilators are very topical. Previously we provided humanitarian aid to Lebanon as supplies of vaccines, test kits, reagents and we will continue to expand these mutual activities," the interlocutor said.
He added that Lebanon is a key partner of Russia in the Middle East and is now in a difficult economic and political situation. "It is very important to attract investments and it is necessary to create the most favorable conditions for investors. A number of Russian companies, such as Litasco Group, the international trader of Lukoil Group, successfully cooperate with Lebanon in supplying oil products, PJSC Novatek in developing oil and gas fields of the Lebanese shelf, and PJSC Avtovaz supplies cars through its dealer center. In addition, Rosneft PJSC is maintaining, reconstructing and expanding the terminal for the storage of oil products in Tripoli," specified Shalaev.
According to him, it is also important to develop cooperation with Lebanese partners in the spheres of mutual interest - trade, industry, energy, exploration, agriculture, transport, education, health and culture.
In April, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said at talks in Moscow with Saad Hariri, the chairman of the Lebanese Council of Ministers, that trade turnover between the countries had decreased by 38% because of the pandemic. According to Mishustin, this figure should be restored, and the bilateral intergovernmental commission, whose Russian co-chair is Anton Shalaev, head of Rosstandart, is dealing with issues of trade and economic cooperation.
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Photo: EPA / TASS
Based on materials from TASS