During the restricted format meeting the participants exchanged opinions on the current issues of the CIS. It was decided to pass on the CIS presidency 2019 to Turkmenistan, with the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan acting as co-chairs.
In his speech, the President of Russia stressed the importance of cooperation within the CIS in the political, socioeconomic, humanitarian and law-enforcement spheres. Vladimir Putin noted the need to expand the practice of mutual payments in national currencies and suggested using the potential of the Free Trade Zone Agreement as much as possible. Despite the difficult global economic situation, in January-June 2018, trade within the CIS increased by almost 15 percent to about $85 billion. The Russian President also touched on issues related to the coordination of actions on the international arena and in the United Nations.
The expanded meeting participants heard the reports on the Convention on Cooperation in Exploration and Peaceful Use of Outer Space and on the preparations to mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
A package of documents on enhancing cooperation was signed following the consultations.
The participants included President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov, President of Moldova Igor Dodon, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan Purli Agamyradov, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee – Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev.
