Mikhail Mishustin takes part in the restricted format meeting of the CIS Council of the Heads of Government.
Restricted format meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the CIS member states
Mikhail Mishustin, CIS Secretary General Sergei Lebedev and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkmenistan Hojamyrat Geldimyradov at the joint photo ceremony before the start of the restricted format meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Ashgabat
Restricted format meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the CIS member states
Restricted format meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the CIS member states. Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkmenistan Hojamyrat Geldimyradov
Restricted format meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the CIS member states. Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov
Restricted format meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the CIS member states. Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Turchin
Restricted format meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the CIS member states
Restricted format meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the CIS member states
List of the heads of delegations taking part in the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government:
Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan – Ali Hidayat oglu Asadov;
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 – Alexander Turchin;
Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Olzhas Bektenov;
Prime Minister – Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of the Kyrgyz Republic – Adylbek Kasymaliev;
Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Mikhail Mishustin;
Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan – Chairman of the Council of CIS Heads of Government – Kokhir Rasulzoda;
Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkmenistan – Hojamyrat Geldimyradov;
Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan – Abdulla Aripov;
Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Independent States – Sergei Lebedev.
Mikhail Mishustin’s address:
Colleagues, friends.
I am delighted to welcome all participants to today’s gathering. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the President and Prime Minister of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedow, for the invitation to convene the meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States here in Ashgabat, and, naturally, for the traditional hospitality and the warm welcome extended to the Russian delegation.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to congratulate the brotherly people of Turkmenistan on the recently observed Constitution Day and State Flag Day. Furthermore, I wish all residents of the capital every success on the forthcoming City Day. May you continue to enjoy prosperity.
Since January, Turkmenistan has held the chairmanship in the CIS bodies. Russia stands in support of the priorities set by the Turkmen chairmanship within the Commonwealth.
This year, the CIS commemorates a significant historical milestone – 35 years since its establishment. I extend my congratulations to you all. Additionally, I would like to seize this opportunity to extend my best wishes to esteemed Abdulla Aripov on his forthcoming birthday.
As President Vladimir Putin has emphasised, over the decades we have cultivated special relations, both in the cultural spheres and in the human dimension. Our utmost priority is ensuring the well-being of the citizens of our countries.
This year, as decreed by the leaders, has been designated within the Commonwealth as the Year of Health Protection. In Russia, we dedicate priority attention to enhancing the accessibility and quality of medical care for citizens and introducing the latest innovative technologies and methodologies into medical practice. We are prepared to share our experience with our closest neighbours and friends.
It is crucial that Turkmenistan, as chair of the CIS bodies, also undertakes substantive work in this domain, establishing meaningful interaction with the World Health Organization. Building partnerships both within the CIS and with international structures is, undoubtedly, a prerequisite for bolstering public health.
Colleagues, within the Commonwealth of Independent States, we rely on the principles of neighbourliness, mutual respect, security, and stability.
A unique framework of cooperation has been established across a wide array of areas, yielding tangible benefits to all our countries. This is evident, for instance, in trade relations. From January through February this year, Russia’s trade turnover with the CIS states increased by nearly 6.5 percent compared with the same period last year.
Harnessing our considerable integration potential, we continue to create conditions for enhancing the quality of life of the peoples of the Commonwealth and strengthening national economies.
Considerable progress has been achieved within the framework of the CIS Economic Development Strategy. Implementation of the initial road map for its realisation, according to expert assessments, has provided an additional boost to the gross domestic product of the Commonwealth countries and contributed to an increase in mutual trade.
Several priority projects have been completed under the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor. Checkpoints on its western route have been reconstructed, dredging work on the Volga-Caspian Canal has been conducted, among other measures. We must now complete the construction of critical road bypasses around the major cities.
Since 2024, 70 percent of customs declarations within the CIS have transitioned to paperless clearance. Various digital services are being actively implemented.
Industrial cooperation is expanding. New joint production facilities have been launched in the machine-building sector. A centre for joint engineering in information and communication technologies has been established.
We must now ensure coordinated efforts on the next set of measures for implementing the strategy, which we approved in Minsk in September. I expect that we will all approach this with full responsibility.
It is also essential to continue bolstering transport connectivity across the Commonwealth space. This task will be facilitated by the implementation of the concept for linking the main transport arteries passing through the territories of the CIS member states, which we are adopting today.
Let me remind you that this concept was developed at the proposal of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. It largely aligns with the objectives of forming a Greater Eurasian Partnership, an initiative proposed by President Vladimir Putin.
Our states also cooperate in geodesy and cartography. Thanks to the concerted efforts of the relevant agencies, a Geoportal for the Spatial Data Infrastructure of the CIS Countries has been established. Today, the Head of the Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography, Oleg Skufinsky, will provide a more detailed report on this.
It is noteworthy that the electronic services of such platform enable an efficient exchange of legally significant open-source information between states. They can be utilised to enhance the quality of services offered to citizens and businesses and to address their questions in the realms of tourism, education, investment, and, crucially, territorial planning in border regions. I invite all CIS participants to actively contribute to populating the portal.
The Commonwealth of Independent States is fortifying its position on the international stage.
Last autumn, observer status was granted to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. As President Vladimir Putin has stressed, “harnessing the potential of interaction between the two organisations will be beneficial for ensuring the safe and sustainable development of our countries and the entire Eurasian region.” The CIS Plus format will facilitate the launch of new practical initiatives. It will allow for more effective coordination of logistics routes, digitalisation of the transport sector, and industrial cooperation. We must fully utilise such opportunities.
Colleagues,
A robust regulatory and legal framework has been established within the CIS, along with effective instruments for strengthening historically developed trade, economic, and cultural ties. Everything necessary for joint work is in place.
To achieve results, I believe we should all move more proactively from formulating general concepts to the practical implementation of the agreements reached. We should initiate concrete beneficial projects, prioritising those areas where a rapid economic effect for our countries is possible. These are, above all, energy, transport, logistics, industry, agriculture, and digitalisation.
In doing so, we will be able to realise the integration potential of the Commonwealth for the benefit of the citizens of our states. I am confident that we are capable of accomplishing this task.
May I remind you that Russia plans to hold an International Conference on Strengthening Cultural Ties and Developing Creative Industries in the near future –in St Petersburg in June. Additionally, let me remind you of the INNOPROM international industrial exhibition scheduled for July in Yekaterinburg. Friends and colleagues, I invite you all to participate in these events.
Thank you for your attention.
