The first meeting of heads of government of the EAEU member states is taking place in Almaty as part of Russia’s chairmanship of the EAEU governing bodies in 2023.
Heads of delegations taking part in the restricted meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council pose for a group photo
A restricted meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council
A restricted meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council
A restricted meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council. Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov
Heads of delegations taking part in the restricted meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council pose for a group photo
Heads of delegations taking part in the restricted meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council:
Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan;
Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Roman Golovchenko;
Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov;
Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic and Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov;
Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Chair of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council Mikhail Mishustin;
Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission Board Mikhail Myasnikovich.
Excerpts from the transcript:
Alikhan Smailov: Members of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, participants in the meeting, let me warmly welcome you to the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan.
At our restricted meeting today, we will hear several reports by the commission, discuss issues of importance for our countries, and outline prospects for further cooperation within the EAEU.
I am confident that the adopted decisions will strongly contribute and give new momentum to our organisation’s further development.
I wish all participants in the meeting productive work, and I wish an effective EAEU presidency to Mr Mishustin this year.
Go ahead, Mr Mishustin.
Mikhail Mishustin: Esteemed Mr Smailov, participants at the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting, colleagues, friends,
First of all, I would like to convey the best wishes from President of Russia Vladimir Putin to all of you. And I would like to thank our Kazakhstani friends for their hospitality and, of course, for the excellent organisation of this event, as usual.
We are holding the first meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council this year as part of Russia’s chairmanship of the union’s bodies. I would like to thank my colleague, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, respected Akylbek Japarov, for his effective work as chairman last year. The Russian Federation will ensure the continuity of the policy of strengthening integration. This is necessary for the economic stability of our entire macro-region.
In his address to the leaders of the five states in connection with Russia’s chairmanship, President Vladimir Putin stressed that the union is developing steadily and clearly demonstrates its effectiveness and relevance. Total mutual trade between the states during the union’s existence has increased by more than 50 percent. Foreign trade grew almost by half. In domestic trade, the share of non-commodity goods with high added value is steadily increasing.
Together we are able to withstand the most difficult challenges, such as the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences, as well as today’s global changes, which are a consequence of the collective West’s policy. Despite the external pressure and a difficult international situation, the union operates in a coordinated and efficient manner, based on mutual support and readiness to resolve emerging problems in a timely manner. This approach allows us to maintain stability and continue our work for the benefit of the citizens of our states.
President Vladimir Putin outlined the development of the technological capacity of the five countries, and achieving true independence and self-sufficiency in this area, as the priorities of Russia’s chairmanship. It is also necessary to intensify cooperation in digital transformation. At the same time, conditions should be provided on the common market of the union for the launch of new high-tech enterprises and the introduction of modern solutions in production processes. It is equally important to pursue a unified policy in the field of food security.
We should continue to take joint decisions to create common energy markets.
Together we should reduce the economic risks associated with the use of currencies of unfriendly countries and improve the business environment.
Another priority is the formation of a new transport and logistics infrastructure, as well as building mutually beneficial and equal cooperation between the union and external partners and external international associations.
Colleagues,
We are ready for close and constructive cooperation with our partners and the Eurasian Economic Commission for the practical implementation of the Russian chairmanship’s priorities.
Our countries have been working together in various areas for more than a decade. And now it is especially important to strengthen practical cooperation and expand areas of joint activity, primarily to improve the lives of our people.
I am sure that together we will accomplish these goals.
I propose discussing, in the restricted format, the most significant and substantive issues of our integration cooperation, which require the decisions of the heads of government.
