ArmInfo. Within the framework of the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, the meeting of the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin took place in Tsakhkadzor.
As the RA Premier's press service reports, welcoming Mikhail Mishustin in the Republic of Armenia, the Prime Minister noted. "I am very happy for this meeting and I hope that today we will have a constructive discussion on the topical issues of our bilateral relations. Of course, a very important event is also planned within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union.
First of all, I would like to personally thank you, Mikhail Vladimirovich, for the fact that during our last meeting in Sochi, you promised that the new lanes of the Upper Lars checkpoint will be opened soon. And it happened, this is a very important and significant event in our relations, because you know, there were usually multi- kilometer queues. Of course, we are grateful to you and our Georgian colleagues. We are very happy about your cooperation.
It must be said that according to the results of 2022, our trade turnover amounted to 5 billion USD, and this growth continues. This year it has already exceeded 3 billion USD. I hope that by the end of this year we will surpass last year's figure. We also have very strong relations. And I am sure that our cooperation will remain effective.
Of course, we have many problematic issues in terms of regional affairs, and we always discuss these issues with our Russian partners. I am sure that today we will address these issues as well. I welcome you once again".
In his turn, Mikhail Mishustin noted. "Dear Nikol Vovaevich, dear colleagues, I am very happy to see you. Thank you for the invitation to the regular session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council. We agreed to hold it here in Armenia and to discuss the most urgent issues related to the development strategy of the EAEU for the coming decades.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to convey to you the best wishes of Russian President Vladimir Putin. And also to thank you, Nikol Vovaevich, and Armenian colleagues for the traditionally excellent organization of all events and the hospitable reception of our Russian delegation.
We highly value friendship, partnership, allied relations with Armenia, despite the difficult external economic situation, you talked about this, Russia's trade and economic ties with Armenia are strengthening, trade is growing, and this makes us happy, and we feel the effect of Armenia's membership to the EAEU. Here we record an increase in the efficiency of interaction with all participating countries.
As for the intergovernmental commission, headed by Alexey Overchuk from our side, initiatives of mutual interest are being developed. We are in constant mode, in constant contact. Thank you for your kind words.
Yes, we promised, the Minister of Transport, the head of the customs service, Alexey Overchuk, our colleagues, they all took it very seriously, and we generally take all our promises seriously and fulfill them. As for other initiatives, we continue to cooperate in the energy sector, peaceful nuclear industry, mining and transport logistics. There are a number of high-tech projects. I think that our business missions, which regularly meet, have a very good effect on the general economic development. We propose to speed up the work in all our joint directions, in the field of innovation projects and economic development.
It is also extremely important to continue to expand the use of national currencies in our joint projects, mutual trade. I am sure that it will contribute to the growth of trade and diversification of the economic structure. We also work actively in the humanitarian sector, and in Armenia, by the way, there is traditionally a great interest in receiving Russian higher education. More than 5,000 Armenian students study in Russian universities. Here we will continue to support the improvement of the quality of teaching Russian language in Armenia. I want to thank you, dear Nikol Vovaevich. During the meeting with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, among other issues, the elements related to the improvement of teaching quality and the possibility of building new schools were discussed in detail. And here we are also happy that Russian language teachers of the Republic of Armenia are regularly trained in Russia. By the end of the year, we will supply about 50,000 textbooks for all schools of the republic. This is exactly what we were talking about with you, you have also talked about it with the President.
We are consistently advocating the unblocking of economic, transport and logistics links in the South Caucasus, in accordance with the agreements between the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. I am sure that the creation of new infrastructural routes will ensure the sustainable economic development of the region and strengthen contacts between the people living here.
Dear Nikol Vovaevich, we have a full joint agenda, I suggest to proceed with it. Thanks for attention".
