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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues,

We have agreed that I will begin as the host party.

I would like to inform everyone who has joined us that we have just had a restricted-format meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, discussed topical issues pertaining to our association’s activities, and made decisions on further deepening integration cooperation.

I would like to welcome the heads of the EAEU observer states who have joined the expanded meeting: President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez.

Our meeting today is timed to the 10^th anniversary of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union. This is truly a key instrument which the member countries used as guidelines and jointly made considerable efforts to deepen Eurasian integration, build a single market, and establish a unique supranational system of economic regulation.

By eliminating numerous trade and administrative barriers, we have achieved a high degree of freedom in the flow of goods. The five member countries have adopted common technical, sanitary, veterinary and phytosanitary norms and standards.

The Eurasian Union has proven its effectiveness in the face of new challenges, including those related to the sanctions policies pursued by some countries and the dismantling of many of the basic pillars of international trade.

We are constantly fine-tuning the EAEU institutions and mechanisms, thus making it possible to adapt to changes and develop dynamically, despite the downturn in the global economy.

We have managed to achieve tangible results in creating a favourable investment climate in the EAEU. This was facilitated by joint decisions to protect investments, support businesses, and guarantee entrepreneurs’ rights.

Much has been done and is being done to promote industrial cooperation, import substitution and strengthen technological sovereignty of the member states. In particular, last year, at the initiative of the Russian presidency, a public-funding mechanism was launched for knowledge-intensive projects implemented by enterprises from the EAEU countries.

The EAEU has always paid considerable attention to food security and development of the member states’ agro-industrial sector. Through joint efforts, we have successfully created conditions for autonomous, uninterrupted supplies of foods and essential agricultural products to the internal market.

Every year, the association’s member states are expanding their cooperation in transport and logistics, with mutual freight traffic rapidly growing. The work was largely facilitated by additional efforts to upgrade border checkpoints and increase their capacity.

I would like to note the EAEU members’ coordinated efforts to build a common transport system. The project for the major International North–South Transport Corridor, which will allow our countries to ship products directly to the ports of the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, is fully underway.

Importantly, we make use of the most advanced technologies for implementing transport and infrastructure projects within the EAEU, such as high-tech navigation seals used to track and control the cargo and ensure its safety, as well as electronic shipping documents and other digital solutions that are being introduced extensively.

In general, digitisation has become a priority on the integration agenda. The EAEU is successfully developing a unified information system that accumulates information on foreign economic activities. Unified standards have been introduced for electronic data exchange, as well as coordinated regulations for digital commerce. Mutual recognition of electronic signatures used by the EAEU countries would serve to increase the efficiency of the common market, making business processes faster and more convenient for entrepreneurs and consumers.

Another emerging and prospective area of activity is cooperation in environmental protection and combating climate change. At the expert level, the work has started to develop unified approaches to solving related pressing issues.

Colleagues,

It has been repeatedly emphasised that the Eurasian Economic Union and all our integration activities are attracting attention of a growing number of international players. Many foreign states and large regional structures such as the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are expressing interest in developing ties with the EAEU.

The number of the EAEU’s preferential foreign trade partners is systematically growing. A trade agreement with the People’s Republic of China is being successfully implemented. Efforts to align integration processes in the EAEU with China’s Belt and Road Initiative are really yielding result.

Trade liberalisation agreements are also in effect with Serbia, Iran and Vietnam. Work is underway to draft agreements with countries with a great economic potential, such as Egypt, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates.

A draft decision on the start of negotiations to sign an interim trade agreement with Mongolia has been prepared for today’s meeting. The EAEU countries are linked with Mongolia through close neighbourly relations and intensive trade and economic contacts.

We are to endorse a number of other important decisions. Hence, at the current anniversary meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Council we should not only sum up results of our joint work in the past decade but also make one more specific step towards deepening our integration.

I would like to recall in this context that at our meeting in St Petersburg last December, we identified potential prospects for the development of our association through 2030 and up to 2045, and adopted a relevant declaration that is being buttressed now by substantive practical agreements.

In conclusion, I would like to thank once again all participants in this meeting for close cooperation and mutual support. I am confident that if we continue acting as a team, we will achieve new tangible results in the development of the EAEU and all of our states.

Allow me to give the floor to Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan who will preside over our meeting as the current Chair of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

Thank you very much.

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