The chairmanship of the CIS Council of Heads of State will pass to Tajikistan from January 1, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin said following the expanded meeting of the Council, Report informs.
"During the just-concluded meeting in a narrow format, we substantively and frankly discussed current issues of cooperation within the Commonwealth of Independent States, exchanged views on regional and international issues. Important decisions were agreed upon, determining the development of the CIS for both the coming year and the future," noted the Russian leader.
He said that the Commonwealth of Independent States is developing and the leaders gathered at the meeting advocate for its further deepening.
"We see that through our joint efforts, the authority of the CIS as a regional integration association is consistently strengthening. The Commonwealth members act exclusively on the principles of mutual understanding, equality, and good neighborliness, successfully solving key tasks to improve the well-being and quality of life of our citizens," Putin stated.
He noted that positive macroeconomic and overall economic dynamics are observed throughout the CIS countries.
"The GDP of the Commonwealth members is growing at a good pace, mutual trade and investment ties are strengthening. For example, Russia's trade turnover with CIS countries increased by an impressive 7.7% to $63.2 billion in just seven months," he said.
Putin also emphasized that CIS countries' companies are implementing mutually beneficial joint projects in energy, industry, infrastructure, and jointly carrying out import substitution programs. An independent financial system, which is oriented towards the use of national currencies, is being built.
"Naturally, cooperation among Commonwealth states is not limited to economics. Interaction on the humanitarian field is successfully developing, on the base of the deep mutual interest of our countries' peoples in each other's culture and traditions," said the head of state.
Putin reminded that next year marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War, regarding which a joint appeal to the peoples of the Commonwealth and the world community was adopted following the meeting:
"On this issue, we will also approve the decision to establish the honorary title 'City of Labor Glory' in CIS countries, which will be awarded for collective contribution to the uninterrupted production of military and civilian products during the Great Patriotic War."
Following the expanded meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State, a number of documents were signed.