A meeting of the joint Moldovan-Russian intergovernmental commission will take place today, March 17, in Moscow, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The joint Moldovan-Russian intergovernmental commission is the main instrument that regulates the economic and commercial relations between Moldova and Russia. The group of experts went to Moscow one day earlier to agree the draft protocol with their Russian colleagues. The protocol will be signed at the end of the meeting,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar, who is co-chairman of the commission, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. Valeriu Lazar also said the agenda of the meeting includes issues concerning the bilateral economic relations, the development of trade, and the implementation of mutually advantageous projects. “We will discuss the promotion of exports, energy issues, including in the context of the sad events in Japan, and aspects of the industrial cooperation. An agreement of cooperation in industry is to be signed later,” he stated. Valeriu Lazar will take part in the festivities that will be held in Moscow to celebrate 20 years of the foundation of the Commonwealth of Independent States. In an economic forum that will form part of those activities, the minister will deliver a speech. The Deputy Prime Minister said he wants to convince his colleagues from Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus that there is no contradiction between Moldova's aspiration to become part of the EU and the wish to develop the cooperation relations within the CIS and the bilateral relations with the member states.