Lavrov: Russia is committed to active, creative work in the format of the Caspian “five”
Russia is committed to active, creative work in the format of the Caspian “five” in the interests of strengthening the position of this region as a zone of peace, harmony, good neighborliness and fruitful international cooperation. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the First meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission on Caspian Cooperation, held in Moscow on October 27.
The very fact of the creation of the Commission, its wide and representative composition is another evidence of the strategic importance of the Caspian region for our country and the attention that the state leadership pays to this area, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.
“Over the past 30 years, we have developed a geopolitical community with the participation of five Caspian states - Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan,” Lavrov said.
Regional issues are regularly discussed by the presidents and heads of government of the Caspian “five”. A serious impetus to work in the five-party format was given by discussions during the Sixth Caspian Summit in June 2022 in Ashgabat and the 2nd Caspian Economic Forum in October 2022 in Moscow. The third Caspian Economic Forum is being prepared.
Increasing interaction is especially in demand in modern geopolitical realities associated with the ongoing formation of a more equitable multipolar world order, when independent players in various regions are established and strengthened as new global centers of development and cooperation, the minister emphasized.
“In this regard, the joint work of the Caspian countries is an important factor in ensuring security, stability and sustainable development throughout the entire Eurasian space,” continued Sergei Lavrov, highlighting the North-South international transport corridor among the most important projects.
During the meeting, the head of the Astrakhan region, Igor Babushkin, reported on the work to strengthen multifaceted contacts with the Caspian region and the joint development of the North-South corridor.
“We are modernizing the Volga-Caspian shipping canal at a high pace. We are actively developing the Caspian cluster, which in the near future will become a powerful cargo processing base and ensure stable cargo turnover with the countries of the Caspian region, the Middle East, South Asia, and in the future, East Africa. We are working to increase trade turnover with all the Caspian states, expanding contacts in the field of shipbuilding, transport and logistics,” the governor said.
Igor Babushkin noted that in addition to the economy, the region is actively developing humanitarian ties with its neighbors in the Caspian Sea. 3 thousand citizens of the Caspian countries receive higher and secondary education in the Astrakhan region. Every year, the Caspian Media Forum, the Caspian Scientific and Educational Congress, the Caspian Medical Forum, the BeregA youth forum, and the International Festival of Classical Art “Caspian Seasons” are held here, where representatives of all countries of the Caspian region gather.
It was previously reported that the Third Caspian Economic Forum will be held in 2023 in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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