MOSCOW, January 23. /TASS/. The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) has every opportunity to become one of the strong, independent and self-sufficient poles in the emerging multipolar world, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an address to heads of EAEU member states published on the Kremlin’s website on Monday.

The close integration inside the Union "is a worthy response to a number of global problems exacerbated by the pandemic and unlawful sanctions imposed by some countries, such as poverty, climate change and shortage of resources, including the most important ones - food, water and energy," he said.

"It is obvious that the Union has every opportunity to become one of the strong, independent, self-sufficient poles in the emerging multipolar world, of being a center of attraction for all the independent states that share our values and seek to cooperate with the EAEU," Putin emphasized.

Russia took over the chairmanship of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council and the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission on January 1, 2023, the president noted.

Overall, he rated highly the development rates of the integration since its foundation in 2015. "The Eurasian Economic Union has been developing steadily, clearly demonstrating its effectiveness and relevance," according to the address.

"In absolute terms, trade between the Union's member states has increased by 60% during this period to reach a historic high of $73.1 billion in 2021, while foreign trade increased by 46% to $846.3 billion. Each year, the share of high value-added non-commodities in the Union's domestic trade increases. Per capita GDP growth was 28.7%, and the share of payments in national currencies was close to 75%," Putin said.