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Putin suggests Russia’s foreign policy needs to be more economically oriented

"Forming an expanse of good-neighborly relations, prosperity, security and stability along the whole perimeter of our state borders" is of special importance, Putin noted

MOSCOW, July 19./TASS/. Russian foreign policy should be more economically oriented given the rising tide of protectionism across the globe, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a conference of Russian ambassadors and permanent representatives at the Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

"Today, the principle of competition and openness in global trade is being more frequently replaced by protectionism," economic expediency - by ideological conjuncture and political pressure, while economic ties and freedom of entrepreneurship are becoming an object of politicization. "Against this background, Russia’s foreign policy must become more economically oriented and more prudent," the president stressed.

"Forming an expanse of good-neighborly relations, prosperity, security and stability along the whole perimeter of our state borders" is of special importance, Putin noted. He reiterated that Russia’s key integration project is the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia) whose member countries, according to Putin, "are acting rather effectively" together. Among the EAEU’s priorities, he cited the use of integration prospects "for encouraging the growth of all member countries’ economies, so that their citizens and their business communities could feel the efficiency and practical usefulness of this cooperation".