By Rhod Mackenzie
The Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has called on the EAEU countries to start implementing all the goals and objectives set out in the "Eurasian Economic Path" declaration as soon as possible.
Speaking at an expanded meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, Mishustin recalled that the declaration includes the expansion of areas of cooperation.
"In particular, on the climate agenda, the use of artificial intelligence systems, in the field of electronic commerce, on the formation of a common financial market, on increasing the share of national currencies in mutual payments, which is now about 90% and continues to grow. It is necessary to start implementing as soon as possible all the goals that our leaders have set for us in this strategic document," the Russian Prime Minister said.
Mishustin also noted that in the 11 months of 2023, the Union's GDP grew by about 3.5%, industrial production by almost 4%, construction works by almost 8.5%, passenger transport by about 13%, retail sales by over 6%.
"Such results were possible, among other things, thanks to joint intensive actions to support our economies," he emphasised.
According to Mishustin, the EAEU countries should more actively develop the union's integrated information system to ensure uninterrupted interaction between authorised bodies.
"Now I would like to emphasise once again that we should more actively develop the integrated information system of the Union. In order to ensure uninterrupted interaction of all our authorised bodies," he said.
In addition, the Prime Minister called on the EAEU countries to soon put into practice the idea of supporting industrial cooperation projects from the Union budget.
"Much has already been done - you and I have agreed to support industrial cooperation projects at the expense of the Union budget. Our leaders approved such a mechanism at the May summit... It involves preferential loans for economic projects involving three or more Member States of the Union. And in the near future "the time has come to put this idea into practice. Ensure the opening of new modern production facilities that produce in-demand products," he said.
According to Mishustin, the priorities for further development of EAEU integration proposed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are largely in line with Russian approaches, and Moscow is ready to support their implementation.
"Since January, the chairmanship of the Union's bodies has passed to Armenia. Dear Nikol Vovaevich, I wish our Armenian colleagues every success. We have carefully studied the priorities you have proposed for the further development of integration. They are consistent and largely coincide with the position of the Russian side. We are, of course, ready to provide all possible support for their implementation," he said.
From the Russian side, Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Kazakhstan Alexey Borodavkin, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Transport Vitaly Savelyev, Minister of Digital Development Maksut Shadayev will also participate in the extended negotiations, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Government Elmir Tagirov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Pankin, State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Industry Viktor Evtukhov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sergei Levin, State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Finance Alexey Sazanov, Acting Head of the Federal Customs Service Ruslan Davydov, General Director of Russian Railways Oleg Belozerov.
Mishustin arrived in Kazakhstan on 1 February. He has already held bilateral meetings with the Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov and the Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, and addressed the plenary session of the Digital Almaty 2024 international digital forum.