MINSK, 28 January (BelTA) – The major points of growth for the CIS are in the economy, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said as he took part in a session of the CIS Council of Permanent Plenipotentiaries in statutory and other bodies of the Commonwealth of Independent States on 28 January, BelTA has learned.
“The most promising areas are closer industrial cooperation, innovative development of transport infrastructure, the establishment of the common energy market, and cooperation in peaceful use of nuclear energy,” Vladimir Makei noted.
Belarus sees integration as a way to solve the strategic goals – ensuring economic growth, raising people's living standards and prosperity, and improving effectiveness of cooperation in solving problems that stem from globalization and new modern challenges.
In view of this, the policy documents of the Belarusian presidency in the CIS will focus on practical issues that are aimed at enhancing trade and economic cooperation, intensifying economic integration, strengthening cooperation in culture and humanitarian affairs, and ensuring international security of the CIS member states.
“The priorities will also include further enhancement and development of the free trade zone, removal of barriers and restrictions, harmonized policy in technical regulation and standardization, and application of sanitary, veterinary and phytosanitary measures. Plans are in place to pool efforts to complete the work to reconcile the draft agreement on free trade in services and sign the final version of the document,” Vladimir Makei said.
According to him, this will give an additional impetus to the economic integration and will benefit business cooperation between the CIS member states.
BelTA reported earlier that Belarus presides in the CIS in 2021. The concept of the Belarusian presidency aims to develop coherent approaches to pressing issues of regional cooperation, strengthen multilateral cooperation for the comprehensive and balanced economic and social development of CIS member states, and to achieve the CIS Sustainable Development Goals.
The Belarusian presidency will work towards achieving synergy effect from the cooperation of CIS member states in various integration associations and organizations - the EAEU, CSTO, SCO.
Much attention will also be paid to ensuring close cooperation between the CIS Executive Committee, CIS industry bodies with the executive bodies of these organizations in solving similar problems, while respecting the principle of multi-level and multi-speed integration but seeking to engage as many participants as possible in the effort to deepen integration in different sectors.
Photos by Andrei Pokumeiko
