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Deputy prime minister calls to double trade between Customs Union and Asia Pacific countries

Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov stressed that trade with the European Union countries is another priority area for the Customs Union

Igor Shuvalov, Photo ITAR-TASS

Igor Shuvalov, Photo ITAR-TASS

ST. PETERSBURG, June 20 (Itar-Tass) - Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov has called to double trade between the Customs Union [of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan] and countries of the Asia-Pacific region.

Speaking at a roundtable meeting within the framework of the Petersburg International Economic Forum on Thursday, Shuvalov stressed that trade with the European Union countries is another priority area for the Customs Union. But “we must be rather strong and civilized,” he noted.

He dismissed allegations that Russia does not share common global values. “On the contrary, Russia is oriented towards common values,” he stressed. He admitted that from time to time Russia has to defend its opinion on issues of principle importance when difficult situation emerge in the course of international communications. So, in his words, Russia is accused of deviation from common global values. At the same time, he admitted that there are certain values that are dear to only certain groups of people but not shared by the bulk of the population.

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