Opinions & Interviews

Belarus suggests more active cooperation of EAEU with European Union, far-arc countries

YEREVAN, 1 October (BelTA) – It is necessary to pay more attention to far-arc countries for the sake of expanding the international agenda of the Eurasian Economic Union. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the relevant statement during the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Yerevan on 1 October, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “For the sake of expanding the international agenda of the Eurasian Economic Union it is necessary to pay close attention to far-arc countries where our products and services are poorly recognized for now. We suggest the Eurasian Development Bank should get actively involved in this work. Our national development banks and other financial institutions should also look for ways to establish tighter interaction both inside the union and outside it.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko praised the advancement of cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union and third countries, including the development of a temporary agreement on creating a free trade zone with Iran and a package of agreements with Singapore. The agreement with Iran will come into force in October.

“Your countries are very significant partners for us. The potential for stronger economic ties is huge. After securing the regime of preferences it is important to encourage the private sector and the governments to establish interaction in a more measured fashion,” Aleksandr Lukashenko told the presidents of Iran and the prime minister of Singapore, who were present during the session.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also mentioned with satisfaction the readiness to sign a free trade agreement with Serbia. He reminded that an agreement on trade and economic cooperation with China will come into force in October. In June the Eurasian Economic Union and the People’s Republic of China agreed to share information about goods and vehicles in advance in order to expedite freight traffic across the border.

“The Eurasian Economic Commission should work out a similar agreement with the European Union in order to make transportation by land from China to Europe via our countries the most attractive route,” Aleksandr Lukashenko believes.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also noted that the Eurasian Economic Union had seriously stepped up interaction with the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. According to the head of state, the integration associations share interests in the spheres of transport, manufacturing cooperation, and digitization.

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