The meeting was held as part of Russia’s 2024 CIS chairmanship. The participants reviewed trade and economic cooperation within the CIS, including expanding cooperation in energy, transport infrastructure, the manufacturing industry, and other areas of mutual interest.
Joint photo session for heads of delegations taking part in the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government
Heads of delegations taking part in the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads
of Government:
Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Abdullah oglu Mustafayev;
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of Belarus, Permanent Plenipotentiary Representative of the Republic of Armenia to statutory and other CIS bodies Razmik Khumaryan;
Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Roman Golovchenko;
Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov;
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 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;
Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Independent States Sergei Lebedev.
Mikhail Mishustin’s remarks:
Colleagues,
I would like to begin by thanking the Turkmenistan side for the warm welcome, traditional hospitality and excellent organisation of our meeting in Ashgabat this spring.
At the summit in Bishkek held last October, President Vladimir Putin noted that the Commonwealth remains a reliable, sought-after and effective format for interaction between the countries of our macro-region.
We candidly exchange views on all items on our agenda, which helps strengthen and expand practical cooperation, and launch innovative projects that are beneficial for individuals and businesses. This is of particular importance amid transformation of the global economy based on the principles of multipolarity and rapid digitalisation of trade and economic processes.
This year, Russia is chairing the CIS. One of our priorities is to implement the action plan to carry out the first stage of the CIS Economic Development Strategy, which is designed to last throughout this decade.
Trade in the CIS grew by over two thirds over the past four years, of which the fulfillment of the decisions envisaged by the action plan accounts for 6 percent. This added an extra 7 percent to the growth in mutual trade in services.
The implementation of the plan has led to an increase in accumulated foreign direct investment by 2 percent.
We will continue to deepen cooperation across various sectors in the long term.
The Agreement on Free Trade in Services and Investment which was signed last summer in Sochi will give it a major boost. It will come into force for Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on June 5.
In Russia, the ratification process is on the home stretch. We expect other countries to complete the necessary domestic procedures soon.
The agreement will create favourable conditions for doing business in the Commonwealth and establishing transparent and clear rules for businesses and consumers alike, which is important.
Expanding humanitarian ties is on the list of our priorities as well.
Our respective countries have rich legacies and distinctive cultures. We preserve common history and traditions, as well as spiritual and moral values which underlie our dialogue. Most importantly, our fraternal peoples remain interested in improving interaction and launching new joint projects.
We are thankful to our CIS partners for their active involvement in international events that are held in Russia.
A Festival of Russian Theatres was held in St Petersburg in April with great success. It was dedicated to the 225th birthday of the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. The programme included performances by Russian theatres from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
As part of the Russian chairmanship this year, we expect guests to visit the first ever Festival of Culture and Arts of the Peoples of CIS Member States. Without a doubt, it will be an outstanding and memorable event, timed to coincide with a meeting of the Council for Cultural Cooperation.
We will be glad to meet again at the International Museum Festival and the 3rd International Cultural Children’s Forum in Moscow. I strongly encourage the official delegations from the CIS countries to take part in the Forum of United Cultures which will take place in St Petersburg this autumn.
We have a busy agenda that includes strengthening cooperation in the energy sector, expanding transport and logistics corridors, the chemical industry, the environmental protection, as well as the protection of intellectual property.
Without a doubt, our joint work will promote the sustainable growth of the CIS economies and, most importantly, improve the well-being of our citizens.
