MOSCOW, Sept. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- The union of Belarus and Russia has become an example of free and equal cooperation among countries inthe post-Soviet space, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said Tuesday.

    "The main thing is that Belarus and Russia, making coordinated foreign policy moves, do not limit themselves to bilateral cooperation but also find coordinated solutions to key problems ofworld politics," Lukashenko told the first Belarussian-Russian Economic Forum in Minsk, capital of Belarus, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

    The adoption of the constitutional act of the union state signifies a new stage of union construction, which will bring the two peoples closer, Lukashenko said.

    The Belarussian president admitted the work toward unification will not be easy.

    "We have to overcome with patience what separates us and treasure what brings us closer and unites us," Lukashenko said.

    The two countries are now working out unified legal, economic and organizational systems to form the basis of the future union state, Lukashenko said.

    Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, who is on a visit to Belarus, said Tuesday Russia has agreed to grant a 146 million-US dollar loan for Belarus to pay for Russian natural gas. Enditem