Russian parliament speaker calls for strengthening integration processes in Eurasia

ANTALYA, October 9. /TASS/. The parliament speakers of Eurasian countries may establish an important platform for boosting integration processes on the continent, Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said, addressing the Third Eurasian Parliamentary Meeting’s plenary session. "We need to take advantage of our meeting to boost dialogue and give impetus to integration projects," he pointed out. According to Volodin, the event "provides grounds for multi-level parliamentary diplomacy, facilitates efforts to strengthen economic and humanitarian ties, deepen integration processes and build relations based on the principles of mutual respect and non-interference in the domestic affairs of sovereign states." In addition, the State Duma speaker welcomed the rapid development of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which unites Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. "The EAEU is an important integration center, which has supra-national governing bodies. This is a new economic reality that meets the demands of the World Trade Organization and is in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals," Volodin said. He noted that more and more countries had been expressing interest in boosting trade and economic cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union. "Over 50 countries intend to ensure special trade treatment for the EAEU," he stressed. Read more