The senator addressed the Greater Eurasian Partnership: Development Strategy session at the 17th International Economic Forum “Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum.”
The session focused on the Russian President’s initiative on forming a Greater Eurasian Partnership as a flagship project designed to achieve stability, universal prosperity, wellbeing and peace.
Grigory Karasin recalled that the relevance of the Greater Eurasian Partnership initiative is reflected in the EAEU’s strategic document, the Eurasian Economic Path, which outlines the development plan for the EAEU through 2030 and its vision for regional transformation by 2045. The process of aligning the activities of the Eurasian Economic Union with China’s Belt and Road Initiative is already in its practical phase, with a particular focus on integrating transport routes and logistics systems.
“A new security architecture must be created across the continent, one that is built upon strong economic ties between countries. We believe that the framework of a common economic space should consist of a network of free trade agreements and an extensive system of transport connections,” the senator said.
“Within the Federation Council, we are actively discussing ways of building a Greater Eurasian Partnership. Following last year’s Government Hour, the Russian Government has been taking steps to implement cooperative projects across Eurasia in the areas of transport, energy, infrastructure construction, digital development, trade and the agro-industrial sector,” he added.
The senator also noted that three agreements are currently undergoing ratification at the Federation Council: a free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and its member states and the Republic of Indonesia; an economic partnership agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and its member states and the United Arab Emirates; and an agreement between the Governments of Russia and the UAE on trade in services and investment.
“All three agreements are aimed at developing trade and economic cooperation in areas of shared interest, and their implementation will undoubtedly help strengthen interaction and, in the longer term, contribute to the building of a Greater Eurasian Partnership,” Grigory Karasin stressed.
At the same time, he emphasised that the Greater Eurasian Partnership is not limited to the economy, trade, transport and logistics alone. “It represents the material foundation for another important Russian initiative – the creation of a Eurasian security architecture, which was put forward by President Vladimir Putin during his address at the Russian Foreign Ministry in June 2024.”
“In this context, Russia supports the Belarusian proposal to develop a Eurasian Charter on Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century. It should become the political and legal foundation of a continent-wide security architecture,” Grigory Karasin concluded.