A summit of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was held in Moscow under the chairmanship of Armenia, Russian media reported.
The EAEU summit started in the Kremlin on May 8 and was attended by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.
They were also joined by the leaders of the EAEU observer countries: President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
Under the Armenian chairmanship, the leaders of the EAEU member states adopted a number of documents, including the one marking the start of negotiations on a trade agreement with Mongolia. The participants also adopted a draft protocol on the electronic exchange of information between the EAEU and Vietnam. The protocol addresses the electronic verification system and verification of goods’ origin.
Putin urged EAEU member states to make joint efforts to achieve further integration and comprehensive development within the bloc.
The volume of mutual trade has almost doubled from 45 billion to 89 billion US dollars.
Lukashenko stated that Russia’s efforts to strengthen the partnership of member states were “more important than ever,” and the measures taken contributed to the extension of mutual trade, with a growth rate of “about $90 billion.” Tokayev, for his part, emphasised that the EAEU must become “more flexible and efficient” amid impending economic challenges.
Talks with Pashinyan
Putin also held separate talks with Pashinyan after the summit. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that “problematic issues have accumulated between the two countries.” The two leaders had not communicated since December, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said.
Armenia’s trade turnover with the EAEU countries has reportedly increased 14 times since 2015, exceeding seven billion dollars with Russia. Pashinyan noted that his country “expresses readiness for active interaction with all member states in the interests of further development” of co-operation.
Over the ten years of its existence, the Eurasian Economic Union has become a significant platform of close economic interaction between its member states.
The EAEU leaders, except Pashinyan, are attending a military parade on May 9 to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the victory in the World War II. They are also taking part in the ceremony of laying flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The Treaty on the EAEU establishment was signed in Astana on May 29, 2014. Last time the leaders of the union met in St Petersburg in December last year.
