The CIS ministerial consultations on the topic "On cooperation within the CIS in 2023" were held at the CIS headquarters in Minsk on 7-8 February, BelTA learned from the press service of the CIS Executive Committee.

The event was attended by representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the CIS Executive Committee.

The participants of the consultations outlined the prospects for expanding cooperation in foreign policy, economy, culture and humanitarian matters, interaction in security and countering new challenges and threats. The diplomats lauded Kazakhstan's chairmanship in the CIS in 2022 and expressed support for Kyrgyzstan as it took over the chairmanship in 2023.

The diplomats confirmed the focus of their countries on the continuous development of cooperation in the CIS, strengthening the coordination of positions and expanding the practice of supporting the initiatives of the CIS states in the international arena, preparing joint statements on topical issues on the international agenda.

Tajikistan expressed gratitude to the CIS countries for supporting the president's initiative to declare 2025 the International Year of Glacier Preservation enshrined in the relevant resolution of the UN General Assembly.

The participants of the consultations proposed to the CIS Executive Committee to continue work on expanding cooperation with other international organizations, and also spoke in favor of intensifying work on the establishment of partner and observer statuses in the CIS. They also noted the importance of advancing the interaction of the CIS with the EAEU, CSTO, and SCO. Representatives of the CIS countries concurred that economic cooperation is a key factor in further deepening integration and sustainable development of states, spoke in favor of the early signing of the Agreement on Free Trade in Services.

The participants of the consultations also noted the importance of launching expert work on the draft constituent documents of the international organization for the support and promotion of the Russian language being created under the auspices of the CIS. In this regard, the representatives of Kazakhstan informed about the ongoing preparation of relevant proposals.

In addition, the meeting reviewed the status of the plan of multi-level ministerial consultations and the action program to enhance the partnership between the foreign ministries of the CIS member states.

Written by belta.by