MINSK, 18 January (BelTA) - Belarus and Russia are planning to establish a joint engineering center in machine tool industry, State Secretary of the Belarus-Russia Union State Grigory Rapota told media, BelTA gas learned. The decision to set up the center was passed during a recent joint session of the industry ministries of the two countries, Grigory Rapota informed. This idea is very promising. The State Secretary is discussing the ways to implement this idea with Belarusian and Russian experts. According to Grigory Rapota, the agencies of the Union State "would like to place a greater emphasis on cooperation in science and technology, and have the support of the Russian and Belarusian sides on this.” The State Secretary of the Union State is confident that more scientific and research activities will help the Union State get out of the global crisis more prepared and stronger. The number of scientific projects that could be implemented under more favorable conditions will be increased, Grigory Rapota explained.