BRUSSELS. Nov 14 (Interfax) - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Didier Reynders and Luxembourg's Minister of the Economy and Foreign Trade Etienne Schneider signed a memorandum of mutual understanding following the 9th session of the Combined Intergovernmental Commission in Brussels on November 14.
"All the windows need to be opened to promote business-to-business contacts," Rogozin said,
The Russian deputy premier said that although the documents that were discussed by the combined commission for economic cooperation formed by Russia and the Belgium-Luxemburg Economic Union are crucial, "what is more important to me is the very spirit, the very atmosphere that we cannot fail to feel and that is actually aimed at creating the most favorable environment for our diverse, large-scale and comprehensive cooperation."
"It is especially pleasing that today we launched our work on highly promising areas such as space exploration and general preparations of satellites, which could turn space from a matter of pure prestige into the pragmatic realization of our ideas concerning what we can do for the economy and people's live through space exploration," he said.
Reynders, for his part, said that the "9th session of the Belgium-Luxemburg-Russia Combined Intergovernmental Commission demonstrated the existence of excellent political and economic ties, which really benefit our enterprises."
The Belgian minister also thanked Rogozin for this economic visit initiative, reiterating local businesses' interest in working together with Russia.
An upcoming forum is expected to draw 300 participants, who will discuss cooperation prospects during five roundtables, he added.
"In my opinion, we will soon be able to sign a Belgium-Russia join action plan for 2014-2016," Reynders said.
King Philippe of Belgium has forwarded an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to "visit Belgium in order to attend World War I commemorating ceremonies in Ypres and Liege," he said.
A delegation representing the Chamber of Commerce of Belgium and Luxembourg will visit the Russian cities of Perm, Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk on November 19, Reynders said,
The chamber's program for 2014 includes 11 missions to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaluga, Togliatti, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk and other Russian cities.
Belgian enterprises have also taken part in major Russian fairs and exhibitions, Reynders said.