ArmInfo.The Armenian-Russian partnership is so broad that it is simply impossible to physically expand it. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on May 6, at a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Ara Aivazian, answering a question about the possibility of a sharp expansion of cooperation.
At the same time, he stressed that a number of events will be planned and held, timed to the anniversary date of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. "As for the trade turnover, to be precise, it decreased by 9.6% and amounted to 2 billion 300 million dollars. Even so, a solid volume remained. There is no doubt that as the epidemiological situation is overcome, the trade turnover will increase rapidly intergovernmental commissions headed by deputy prime ministers are engaged in the restoration of trade, "Lavrov said. In this vein, the Russian minister also touched upon the opportunities that the work of the Trilateral Group of Deputy Prime Ministers opens up to unblock economic ties in the region. Lavrov is convinced that when the agreements on unblocking economic and transport ties in the region are implemented, they will significantly increase the volume of Russian-Armenian ties between Armenia and its neighbors in the region. In turn, acting Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian stated that the consequences of the coronavirus were felt all over the world. "As it was already indicated, in our bilateral relations a decline in trade turnover at the level of about 10% was recorded, but mutual desire and determination to reduce the sharp decline. And at a meeting in Kazan, the prime ministers instructed the relevant commissions with a list of works that will activate economic cooperation," Aivazian said. In his words, the agreements of January 11 open up opportunities for diversification not only for Armenia, but also for the region as a whole. "The Foreign Ministry attaches particular importance to active economic diplomacy. We also attach great importance to the presence in the Russian Federation of a large Armenian Diaspora, which plays the role of a bridge between the two countries. We are sure that the result will soon be evident," Aivazian summed up. Note that according to the data of the RA Statistical Committee. Armenia's foreign trade turnover with the EAEU countries in January-December 2020 compared to the same period of 2019 decreased by 2.6% (against 15.1% growth a year earlier), amounting to $ 2.2 billion. Negative foreign trade balance of Armenia with the EAEU countries amounted to $ 842.4 million, having increased over 12 months by 8.6% (against growth by 26.4% a year earlier) against the background of an increase in imports by 0.2% to $ 1.5 billion, while exports fell by 8.3% to $ 705.3 million (against the growth of imports by 17.6% and exports by 10.5% a year earlier).
According to statistics, Armenia's foreign trade turnover with Russia decreased by 3.5% per annum (against 14.9% growth a year earlier), while Russia retains leadership both in the total volume of foreign trade turnover ($ 2.2 billion) and in exports and imports ($ 676 million and $ 1.5 billion, respectively). Exports with Russia reversed the trend from 10.3% growth to 9% decline, which was also observed for imports from 17.4% growth to 0.7% decline.
The share of Armenia's foreign trade turnover with the EAEU countries in the total structure of foreign trade amounted to 31.7% at the end of 2020 against 28.3% in 2019. Moreover, the share of Russia increased from 27.3% to 30.3%, namely, in the structure of Armenia's foreign trade with the EAEU countries, the share of Russia is 95.7%.
