On December 26, an informal meeting of the presidents and heads of government of the CIS countries took place in St. Petersburg. The heads of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the Prime Minister of Armenia summed up the outgoing 2022. They also discussed plans for the future, current areas of cooperation. However, their conversation was wider. It was also about challenges in the international arena.
“Unfortunately, the challenges and threats in this area, primarily from outside, are only growing every year. We have to admit, unfortunately, that there are also disagreements between the member states of the Commonwealth,” the Russian leader said.
At the same time, Putin stressed that the CIS countries "are ready and will cooperate." According to him, in case of problematic issues, the states try to solve them together and "render comradely assistance to each other." The President of Russia added that the December meeting in St. Petersburg confirms the desire of the countries to develop cooperation further. The heads of all CIS countries interested in cooperation came to the meeting.
In addition, it was noted that regional integration in the CIS is deepening, resulting in an increase in trade between the countries.
They did not ignore the cultural and humanitarian track in relations. Putin pointed to stable ties between the members of the association. “Our peoples are connected by many things: a common history, spiritual roots, a deep interweaving of cultures and customs, values and traditions. And, of course, the Russian language, which is a powerful unifying force that holds our multinational states together,” the Russian President emphasized.
He recalled that earlier it was decided to hold the Year of the Russian Language in 2023. A large program has already been developed aimed at supporting, preserving and raising the status of the language as a means of interethnic communication. It is also planned to organize events to popularize achievements in the field of culture.
In general, the outgoing year has become very fruitful for the Commonwealth in terms of building up practical contacts. It is worth recalling that it was Turkmenistan, being an associate member of the CIS, but at the same time an initiative participant, that promoted the development of the Declaration on Strategic Economic Cooperation of the CIS States, which was adopted in October 2019 in Ashgabat, during the CIS Summit, the Orient portal wrote.
The Declaration formed the basis of the CIS Economic Development Strategy until 2030, which singles out the transport and communications complex, the fuel and energy sector, trade and industrial cooperation, and high technology as key areas of interaction.
After the informal meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented each participant of the meeting with a gold ring with the symbols of the CIS.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
December 27, 2022