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Russia, China leaders to discuss prospects for uniting post-Soviet trade block, Silk Road

There are possibilities of uniting the largest integration initiatives in Eurasia, namely the Eurasian integration process and China’s initiatives for the Silk Road economic belt

MOSCOW, March 30. /TASS/. Russia’s and China’s leaders will meet in May to discuss the prospects of uniting the integration projects of establishing the Eurasian Economic Union and creating the Great Silk Road between Europe and Asia, a Russian official said on Monday.

"We’re at a very serious stage of making a decision. I won’t announce it as this decision will be made public soon. We now see the possibilities of uniting the largest integration initiatives in Eurasia, namely the Eurasian integration process and China’s initiatives for the Silk Road economic belt," Eurasian Economic Commission Trade Minister Andrey Slepynov said.

There is common understanding that the sides should build more effective interaction, the Russian official said.

"We have received all corresponding assurances from our Chinese partners at a high level," Slepnyov said.

"We’re now preparing quite a serious statement, which I hope the leaders [of Russia and China] may make in May," he said.

The Treaty on the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) was signed by the presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan on May 29, 2014 in Astana. The EEU will be established to ensure the free movement of goods, services, capital and workforce on its territory. The EEU currently comprises Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia.

China’s integration project aims to revive the ancient Silk Road and build a transport, energy and trade corridor between Europe and Asia.