Cooperation in the post-Soviet space continues
Moscow hosts the Eurasian Economic Forum, a major international discussion platform. It is attended by about three thousand guests and participants representing more than 50 states. At the plenary session, the leaders of the participating countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, delivered a speech. The expert commented to MK what the heads of state were talking about.
Photo: eaeunion.org
The main topic of the forum, which will include about 35 business sessions, was «Eurasian integration in a multipolar world».
The most important event was the plenary session, which was attended by the leaders of the participating countries. In addition to Vladimir Putin, there were President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich. The plenary discussion was moderated by the President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin.
The first of the leaders of the countries was Russian President Vladimir Putin. He noted the importance and relevance of the forum, which will now be held regularly, stressed that the role of this association is growing, which indicates a rapidly changing world and the successful development of Eurasian integration. The President admitted that he considers this topic relevant, covering the most important issues facing the Eurasian Union.
In his speech, Putin drew attention to the profound changes taking place on the global stage. Thus, more and more states are aimed at strengthening national sovereignty, independent domestic and foreign policies, adhere to their own development model, expand the network of partnerships, treat each other with respect. All of them are in favor of building a new, more equitable architecture of economic relations, striving to constructively influence world processes. With this approach, according to Putin, the majority of participants in international communication are in solidarity.
The President noted that both Russia and its partners in the Eurasian Union are interested in honest, productive, pragmatic cooperation. Everyone who acts, thinks, does otherwise, causes damage to the global economy and, as Putin put it, in fact
«shoot in the foot» themselves and in the foot of those who are still forced to obey their dictate, only strengthening downtrend of own development.
Putin noted that «despite the large-scale crisis in the global economy and trade, considerable geopolitical risks and the uncertainty factor», the total GDP of the EEC states for 2022 decreased by only 1.6%, although «some experts …» over the hill » , predicted a completely different scenario, such a landslide scenario.”
“We are ready to cooperate at any moment with anyone who wants to work with us on the above principles. Such cooperation is beneficial to all members of the association,” the president noted, emphasizing that domestic and international experts are talking about the growth of the Russian economy, although they had previously predicted a fall for it.
But the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko made a sudden confession, recalling how the EAEU was born.
“I was present at the origins of many processes,” Lukashenko shared, “I must say that our Eurasianism, the current EAEU began in the kitchen with President Putin. It really was. He is here, he will confirm it.”
Close ties between Moscow and Minsk were also noted by the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev:
“We have a union state in the EAEU,” Tokayev said, “That is, a unique precedent or phenomenon has been created in world political history … the creation of a state according to the formula “two countries — one state” with a single political, legal, military, economic, currency, cultural, humanitarian space, with a single union government, with a single union parliament … And even nuclear weapons are one for two now.»
According to him, this union has a serious «conceptual and ideological basis — this is the mutual recognition of the historical community of the Belarusian and Russian peoples, the recognition of cultural, linguistic, religious identity, that is, the recognition of the existence of one people.»
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov made a proposal to unite the strategic planning systems of the EAEU countries.
The creation of a Eurasian rating agency would make it possible to intensify investment activity in the EAEU.
«I am sure that protecting the interests of business and its support from the state is a priority task in all EAEU countries. In this regard, I consider it necessary to work out the issue of the expediency of establishing the institution of a business ombudsman,» the leader of Kyrgyzstan noted.
According to According to Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan, the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union should saturate the agenda and constantly update the strategic goals of the EAEU. He urged to strive for freedom of movement of goods and services in the Union.
An expert from the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation spoke about the results of the speeches of the leaders of the allied countries «MK».
“The key points associated with the current event once again confirm that the integration processes that are taking place in the space of the Eurasian continent remain relevant and Russia plays a key role in them,” the expert believes, “this is also confirmed by those leaders who participate in the data events.”
— In his speech, Vladimir Vladimirovich repeatedly emphasized the importance of building horizontal ties between states and, as we know, in the last year alone, the volume of trade with some of them has grown by almost 80%, which means that, despite the blockade by the states of the collective West, the development of Russia continues and the cooperation of states in the post-Soviet space continues. So, one can only take such meetings and events positively, and, as a result, expect that the whole world is not only the countries of the West, but, first of all, the countries of another world, with which normal relations continue and their development is observed.