M. Mishustin: Formation of new infrastructural routes to ensure  sustainable economic development of region

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".