MOSCOW, March 26, 18:15 /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s Federation Council upper house of parliament has ratified a protocol on Uzbekistan’s entering the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) free trade zone.

Uzbekistan has become a ninth country to join the CIS free trade zone.

The purpose of the protocol is to involve the Central Asian Republic of Uzbekistan in cooperation within the CIS and unify trade regimes. The protocol will help make the CIS free trade system universal and step up trading and economic cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan.