Uzbekistan has obtained an observer nation status at the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and expressed its interest in developing trade relations and forming new markets, Uzbek president's press service said on December 11.
Uzbekistan is committed to consistently strengthening trade, economic and investment cooperation with all international partners, including the EAEU, it said.
According to the Uzbek authorities, cooperation within the framework of the economic union will further enhance Uzbekistan's ability to increase foreign trade, attract investment projects, and promote development in transport, communications and cargo sectors, according to Uzbek authorities.
Uzbekistan obtained the observer status during a virtual meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.
Recall a summit of the EAEU was held via videoconference on December 11. The summit focused on joint fights against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and long-term integrations strategy.
The summit, which was planned to take place in Minsk, was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Joint efforts to counter the pandemic dominated the summit’s agenda.
The EAEU leaders also discussed a draft strategy for integration development until 2025 and steps toward further expanding the common market, as well as a draft agreement on the exchange of information to counter money laundering and terrorist financing, according to Sputnik.
Besides, they discussed the issue of granting an EAEU observer nation status to Cuba and Uzbekistan.
The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is an economic union of states located primarily in northern Eurasia. A treaty aiming for the establishment of the EAEU was signed on May 29, 2014 by the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, and came into force on January 1, 2015. Treaties aiming for Armenia's and Kyrgyzstan's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union were signed on October 9 and December 23, 2014, respectively. Armenia's accession treaty came into force on January 2, 2015. Kyrgyzstan's accession treaty came into effect on August 6, 2015.
The Eurasian Economic Union has an integrated single market of 183 million people and a gross domestic product of over 4 trillion U.S. dollars (PPP). The EEU introduces the free movement of goods, capital, services and people and provides for common transport, agriculture and energy policies, with provisions for a single currency and greater integration in the future. The union operates through supranational and intergovernmental institutions. The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council is the “Supreme Body” of the Union, consisting of the Heads of the Member States. The other supranational institutions are the Eurasian Commission (the executive body), the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (consisting of the Prime Ministers of member states) and the Court of the EEU (the judicial body).
