MOSCOW, February 15. /TASS/. More than a dozen countries and international organizations are interested in establishing partnership relations with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and even signing deals on free trade zones, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the State Duma on Wednesday.
"Russia's diplomacy has stepped up work in areas where the multipolar world order is gaining momentum and where our partners are ready for honest and mutually beneficial cooperation. Among the top priorities is deepening joint formats with our friends, allies and like-minded comrades in Eurasia. Integration cooperation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union chaired by Russia this year is expanding. The number of countries and international organizations is growing. And there are more than a dozen of them, who are interested in establishing relations with the Eurasian Economic Union, including inking agreements on free trade zones," he said.
Lavrov noted that within the Union State, integration processes are deepening. The bulk of the 28 integration programs has already been implemented, while foreign policy coordination is being strengthened and cooperation through the CIS is developing, the minister said, adding that cooperation within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is an integral factor of regional security and stability.