Heads of delegations taking part in CIS Heads of Government Council meeting:
Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of Belarus, Permanent Plenipotentiary Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the statutory and other bodies of the Commonwealth of Independent States Razmik Khumarian
Restricted format meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States Heads of Government Council
Restricted format meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States Heads of Government Council
Restricted format meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States Heads of Government Council
Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Roman Golovchenko
Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Oljas Baktenov
Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov
Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the CIS Council of Heads of Government Mikhail Mishustin
Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Kohir Rasulzoda
Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan Hojamyrat Geldimyradov
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Kuchkarov
General Secretary of the CIS Sergei Lebedev.
Mikhail Mishustin’s remarks:
Colleagues, friends,
I would like to thank each of you for your extensive reports we have just heard, our Kyrgyz partners for their efficient chairmanship of the CIS last year, and personally Mr Japarov for his constructive stance in resolving issues.
On 1 January, Russia took over the CIS chairmanship status. At the CIS Heads of State Council meeting in Bishkek last autumn, President Vladimir Putin emphasised that, “Russia is resolved to work energetically to further strengthen the prestige of the CIS as an integration association and to boost all-round cooperation within the organisation based on the principles of mutual understanding, trust, equality and good-neighbourliness.”
The CIS countries are our key partners, with their ever-increasing share in Russia’s foreign trade that grew to over 14.5 percent in 2023 and to nearly 16 percent this year.
Despite the counter action by our ill-wishers, our trade with the CIS countries increased by 5.8 percent in 2023, and by over 6.5 percent between January and March this year.
The CIS member states’ GDP grew by 3.8 percent last year, in contrast to the EU’s one that showed growth by less than 0.5 percent.
We should advance our coordinated work to build the Commonwealth’s economic and industrial potential and develop new cooperation mechanisms, with the key task of improving the standard of living. Solely through our joint efforts can we effectively confront challenges, protectionism, unfair competition, and the sanctions policy.
These priorities are documented in the Concept of Russia’s Chairmanship of the CIS approved by the President. We are taking every effort to extensively implement it.
Our core aim is to improve our economic ties, primarily in the food industry as well as technology and energy security. Essential are also industrial cooperation, logistics, environment protection, innovation, digitalisation, and many other issues on the bilateral and multilateral agendas.
We should enhance our cooperation between customs authorities, an issue that we have extensively discussed, and pursue a coordinated antimonopoly policy to ensure conditions for a transparent and fair competition as well as for comprehensive use of innovative, advanced solutions in all industries.
We are facing challenging tasks of developing the transport complex and building a settlement and payment system independent of external conditions.
To boost the CIS prestige in the international arena, we will maintain further dialogue with friendly states and integration associations, such as the EAEU, Collective Security Treaty Organisation, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, BRICS, and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. These efforts are also essential for implementing President Vladimir Putin’s initiative to build a Greater Eurasian Partnership. I am confident that it will benefit all countries in the region.
We put particular emphasis on our humanitarian ties, which are essential for boosting interaction between CIS nations. Our friendly fraternal relations are based on a centuries-long shared history and vast heritage. And obviously, we need to cherish and enhance these traditions, including through expansion of our joint projects in healthcare, science, culture, education, and of course, sports.
In this regard, Turkmenistan pays close attention to cooperation in the CIS space. Obviously, we fully support the initiative to declare Ashgabat a City of New Sports Opportunities in the CIS. I am confident that all events will be highly successful, will meet very high standards and become an impressive festival for sports fans. I know that our Russian athletes will be happy to take part in all competitions.
This autumn, we will be welcoming your athletes at the World Friendship Games in Russia, which will certainly be an exciting sporting event.
Dear colleagues, friends,
The Commonwealth of Independent States boasts immense potential. Russia is willing to work with you to fully develop it through building new cooperation chains and advanced logistics routes, and launch joint humanitarian projects. These efforts are essential for each CIS member’s economic development, and will serve to improve quality of life. This has always been a priority for us and our nations.
