BOAO /China/, March 26. /TASS/. Russia is interested in forming deep economic ties with the states of the Asian region, Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said.

"Indeed, the countries of Asia and I would say more broadly: the countries of the Global South, are playing an increasing role in the world economy. <...> Of course, their role is colossal: these are colossal markets, colossal economic power," he told reporters during the Boao Asian forum in Hainan. "Of course, Russia is interested in developing deep ties with these countries," he added.

Overchuk noted that Western markets will remain closed to Russia "indefinitely." "Today, we certainly see the growth of Asian markets and understand that these are our main markets. In a very short period of time, we virtually managed to redirect our commodity flows to the east," he added.

In particular, the Deputy Prime Minister recalled that from 2020 to 2023, in a short period of time, Russian-Chinese trade turnover more than doubled, surpassing $240 bln.