“We see each other as important partners, and our partnership is not limited to the energy sector. In fact, we’re now gravitating more and more toward high-tech sectors,” the Russian prime minister said at the meeting.

The Russian prime minister pointed out that Russia and Belarus enjoy cooperation in many areas. “I’m referring to agriculture, transport, communication, engineering, and naturally the energy sector.” As for the Russian-Belarusian oil and natural gas agreements, Vladimir Putin said that “the work has almost been completed” and that the two countries’ presidents would finalise it at their meeting in November.

“The meeting participants considered a draft declaration on the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union. We expect the “troika” heads of state to sign the declaration as early as December. The idea of setting up the Eurasian Economic Union will thus assume a concrete shape.”

“The economy immediately responded to the creation of the Customs Union: mutual trade between our troika of nations grew by a third in a year and has exceeded $108 billion. By creating the Customs Union we have moved closer to forming the Common Economic Space. This represents an even higher level of integration, with the free flow of services, goods, labour and capital.”

“During the difficult time of the global economic downturn, the EurAsEC promptly worked out some effective instruments to respond to global economic risks and to protect the common economic interests and social welfare of our countries’ people.”