The Russian-Armenian interregional forums have been held since 2011 to identify promising areas of cooperation and establish new ties between Russia and Armenia at the regional level. Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk addressed the forum via videoconference.
Excerpts from the transcript:
Alexei Overchuk: Good afternoon, colleagues,
I am glad to welcome the participants and guests of the 8th Russian-Armenian Interregional Forum. The first meeting of the heads of our regions was held in April 2011. During the ensuing period, the forums have proved their importance and effectiveness. Representatives of Russian regions and business and expert communities have arrived in Yerevan, something that emphasises once again the close and allied nature of our relations. Our countries and peoples are linked by friendship and common, centuries-old history.
Russia and Armenia have every opportunity for a sustainable and dynamic development of multifaceted collaboration in trade, the economy and the humanitarian sphere as well as in implementing large-scale infrastructure projects. Interregional cooperation is making a significant contribution towards this work.
Today’s event is a unique dialogue venue that makes it possible for government officials and public figures, representatives of business communities and the humanitarian sphere to compare notes on the entire range of topics of mutual interest, including in the context of Eurasian integration.
Russia and Armenia are confidently advancing along this path. Jointly with our colleagues from Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, we are establishing unified markets with a favourable environment for the promotion of business in various spheres that are due to embrace over 182 million people in the Union’s member states.
I am confident that through joint efforts we will consistently advance our integration community, the Eurasian Economic Union, to ensure conditions for the stable development of our economies in the interests of improving the living standards of our citizens.
Given the strategic need to “build the bridges” between regions, we have drafted the Programme of Interregional Cooperation for the Period from 2022 to 2027.
I am certain that Armenia’s further cooperation with Russian regions will produce a powerful multiplicative effect, make it possible to tap our macroeconomic potential, and benefit the peoples of our two fraternal countries, while the agreements to be achieved at the forum will allow us to reach a qualitatively new level of collaboration on the entire range of matters related to our dialogue.
In conclusion, I would like to thank the participants and organisers of this event and wish you success in your joint work.
Thank you.
