🎙Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the 46th meeting of the Council of Heads of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation under the Russian Foreign Ministry on interregional cooperation with African countries(April 8, 2026, Moscow)
💬 Russia and Africa are bound by long-standing and close ties.
Today, the countries of the continent are striving to finally overcome the remnants of colonial dependence and to strengthen their national sovereignty, above all in the economic and financial spheres.
Those who describe the current period as Africa’s “second awakening” after the decolonisation of the 1960s are right. It was then that political independence was proclaimed, above all thanks to the decisive role of the Soviet Union, which promoted the relevant declarations at the UN.
☝️Recent years have shown that neo-colonial dependence has by no means disappeared. Economically and financially, in terms of control over trade routes and financial flows, Africa still does not enjoy full independence and continues, in economic terms, to serve as a source of raw materials.
👉The lion’s share of added value is still generated elsewhere – to a large extent, and decisively so, in the former metropolitan powers.
African partners spoke about this more than once at the two Russia-African Union summits held in Sochi in 2019 and in St Petersburg in 2023. The decisions adopted at those summits should serve as guidelines in preparing for the next summit, which we plan to hold later this year.
All this will contribute to Africa’s economic emancipation, ensure that it reaps the proper returns and benefits from its natural resources, and support the emergence of the African continent as one of the centres of the rising #MultipolarWorld.
🤝 I would like to stress in particular that we are restoring our presence on the African continent fairly rapidly, after it declined sharply during the breakup of the Soviet Union. At present, Russia has 45 embassies operating across the continent, with four more set to open in the near future.
The key upcoming event on the foreign policy calendar is the third Russia-Africa Summit. It is due to be held in Moscow – this has been agreed – in late October this year. Preparations are currently underway. We count on the active participation of Russian regions in the relevant thematic sessions of this summit.
I would once again like to underscore the special importance we attach to the interregional dimension of Russia-Africa relations. It is a solid foundation which, as it grows stronger, helps ensure the steady development of relations with our partners at the national level.
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🗓 May 29, by decision of the Heads of States of the Eurasian Economic Union, is celebrated annually as #EAEUDay.
January 1 marked 1️⃣0️⃣years since the Treaty on the EAEU (signed on May 29, 2014) came into force, launching the Union as a regional integration association.
Over this time, the EAEU has proven to be asuccessful project of regional integration based on equality and consideration of each member’s interests. The Union has become an independent and self-sufficient centre of the emerging #MultipolarWorld.
The member-states of the Union — the EAEU "Five" — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia — have achieved significant progress: the Union's internal market is functioning and improving, mutual trade is demonstrating sustainable growth, cooperation is becoming closer in such areas as transportation, logistics, industry, agriculture, energy and food security.
📈Economic indicators speak for themselves: according to estimates available, the combined GDP of the EAEU member-states has increased from 1.6 to 2.5 trillion dollars over the 10 years of the Union's development.
In 2024, the growth of the GDP (on average in the Union) was recorded as 4.4%, thus, outpacing the global average growth of 3.3%. Trade with third countries has increased by 60%, while the share of the national currencies in mutual trade within the EAEU has reached 90%.
The Eurasian Economic Union has firmly established itself as a major actorin global economic affairs with an extensive network of partnerships. Today, free trade agreements of the EAEU with Vietnam🇻🇳, Iran🇮🇷, and Serbia🇷🇸 are already in force, with the two non-preferential agreements have been signed with China🇨🇳. Active efforts are being made to align the Union with China’s Belt and Road initiative.
The EAEU maintains close cooperation with the Union's observer-states, such as Uzbekistan🇺🇿, Cuba🇨🇺, and Iran🇮🇷. The trade talks the EAEU is holding with Indonesia🇮🇩, the UAE🇦🇪, and Mongolia🇲🇳 are nearing completion.
📰 An excerpt form the interview by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk for 'Rossiyskaya Gazeta' (May 28, 2025):
💬 <...> “We consider the EAEU to be the economic nucleus of Northern Eurasia — an area that has achieved a high level of socio-economic development and largely resolved issues of food and energy security.
This makes the EAEU "Five" an attractive partner for the Global South countries, many of which are still fighting the implications of their colonial dependence on Western Europe. <...>
Eurasia holds a vast creative potential, with nations both in the North and South committed to progress. Many of these countries are naturally seeking cooperation with Russia.”
🎙 From a briefing by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova(May 20, 2025):
💬 “Today, the EAEU stands as a paradigm of successful integration, where cooperation is built on principles of equality, trust, and respect, with due consideration for the interests of each member state.
We extend our congratulations ahead of EAEU Day and express gratitude to our colleagues from member states and the Eurasian Economic Commission for their productive collaboration. We remain committed to unlocking further economic potential and deepening integration for the benefit of our nations’ citizens and businesses.”
🗓 May 29, by decision of the Heads of States of the Eurasian Economic Union, is celebrated annually as #EAEUDay.
January 1 marked 1️⃣0️⃣years since the Treaty on the EAEU (signed on May 29, 2014) came into force, launching the Union as a regional integration association.
Over this time, the EAEU has proven to be asuccessful project of regional integration based on equality and consideration of each member’s interests. The Union has become an independent and self-sufficient centre of the emerging #MultipolarWorld.
The member-states of the Union — the EAEU "Five" — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia — have achieved significant progress: the Union's internal market is functioning and improving, mutual trade is demonstrating sustainable growth, cooperation is becoming closer in such areas as transportation, logistics, industry, agriculture, energy and food security.
📈Economic indicators speak for themselves: according to estimates available, the combined GDP of the EAEU member-states has increased from 1.6 to 2.5 trillion dollars over the 10 years of the Union's development.
In 2024, the growth of the GDP (on average in the Union) was recorded as 4.4%, thus, outpacing the global average growth of 3.3%. Trade with third countries has increased by 60%, while the share of the national currencies in mutual trade within the EAEU has reached 90%.
The Eurasian Economic Union has firmly established itself as a major actorin global economic affairs with an extensive network of partnerships. Today, free trade agreements of the EAEU with Vietnam🇻🇳, Iran🇮🇷, and Serbia🇷🇸 are already in force, with the two non-preferential agreements have been signed with China🇨🇳. Active efforts are being made to align the Union with China’s Belt and Road initiative.
The EAEU maintains close cooperation with the Union's observer-states, such as Uzbekistan🇺🇿, Cuba🇨🇺, and Iran🇮🇷. The trade talks the EAEU is holding with Indonesia🇮🇩, the UAE🇦🇪, and Mongolia🇲🇳 are nearing completion.
📰 An excerpt form the interview by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk for 'Rossiyskaya Gazeta' (May 28, 2025):
💬 <...> “We consider the EAEU to be the economic nucleus of Northern Eurasia — an area that has achieved a high level of socio-economic development and largely resolved issues of food and energy security.
This makes the EAEU "Five" an attractive partner for the Global South countries, many of which are still fighting the implications of their colonial dependence on Western Europe. <...>
Eurasia holds a vast creative potential, with nations both in the North and South committed to progress. Many of these countries are naturally seeking cooperation with Russia.”
🎙 From a briefing by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova(May 20, 2025):
💬 “Today, the EAEU stands as a paradigm of successful integration, where cooperation is built on principles of equality, trust, and respect, with due consideration for the interests of each member state.
We extend our congratulations ahead of EAEU Day and express gratitude to our colleagues from member states and the Eurasian Economic Commission for their productive collaboration. We remain committed to unlocking further economic potential and deepening integration for the benefit of our nations’ citizens and businesses.”
🇷🇺🇦🇲🇧🇾🇰🇿🇰🇬 Happy EAEU Day!
📅 Since the signing of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union on May 29, 2014, the Union has consistently kept pace with the times, building integration for the benefit of the people and businesses of all member states.
🤝 This progress would not have been possible without the close cooperation of all EAEU countries and the work of the Eurasian Economic Commission.
📊 As a result, from 2015 to 2024, the Union’s total GDP grew by 17.8%, industrial output increased by nearly 30%, and agricultural production rose by 25.5%. Both intra-union trade and trade with external partners more than doubled over this period.
❗A major factor behind this success has been the EAEU’s extensive network of international partnerships, including free trade agreements with 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇷🇸 Serbia, and 🇮🇷 Iran, as well as a trade agreement with 🇨🇳 China.
🎊 We warmly congratulate the citizens of the Union on EAEU Day, express our gratitude to our partners, and look forward with confidence to the continued development of Eurasian integration!
#EAEU
#EAEUDay
🗓 May 29, by decision of the Heads of States of the Eurasian Economic Union, is celebrated annually as #EAEUDay.
January 1 marked 1️⃣0️⃣years since the Treaty on the EAEU (signed on May 29, 2014) came into force, launching the Union as a regional integration association.
Over this time, the EAEU has proven to be asuccessful project of regional integration based on equality and consideration of each member’s interests. The Union has become an independent and self-sufficient centre of the emerging #MultipolarWorld.
The member-states of the Union — the EAEU "Five" — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia — have achieved significant progress: the Union's internal market is functioning and improving, mutual trade is demonstrating sustainable growth, cooperation is becoming closer in such areas as transportation, logistics, industry, agriculture, energy and food security.
📈Economic indicators speak for themselves: according to estimates available, the combined GDP of the EAEU member-states has increased from 1.6 to 2.5 trillion dollars over the 10 years of the Union's development.
In 2024, the growth of the GDP (on average in the Union) was recorded as 4.4%, thus, outpacing the global average growth of 3.3%. Trade with third countries has increased by 60%, while the share of the national currencies in mutual trade within the EAEU has reached 90%.
The Eurasian Economic Union has firmly established itself as a major actorin global economic affairs with an extensive network of partnerships. Today, free trade agreements of the EAEU with Vietnam🇻🇳, Iran🇮🇷, and Serbia🇷🇸 are already in force, with the two non-preferential agreements have been signed with China🇨🇳. Active efforts are being made to align the Union with China’s Belt and Road initiative.
The EAEU maintains close cooperation with the Union's observer-states, such as Uzbekistan🇺🇿, Cuba🇨🇺, and Iran🇮🇷. The trade talks the EAEU is holding with Indonesia🇮🇩, the UAE🇦🇪, and Mongolia🇲🇳 are nearing completion.
📰 An excerpt form the interview by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk for 'Rossiyskaya Gazeta' (May 28, 2025):
💬 <...> “We consider the EAEU to be the economic nucleus of Northern Eurasia — an area that has achieved a high level of socio-economic development and largely resolved issues of food and energy security.
This makes the EAEU "Five" an attractive partner for the Global South countries, many of which are still fighting the implications of their colonial dependence on Western Europe. <...>
Eurasia holds a vast creative potential, with nations both in the North and South committed to progress. Many of these countries are naturally seeking cooperation with Russia.”
🎙 From a briefing by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova(May 20, 2025):
💬 “Today, the EAEU stands as a paradigm of successful integration, where cooperation is built on principles of equality, trust, and respect, with due consideration for the interests of each member state.
We extend our congratulations ahead of EAEU Day and express gratitude to our colleagues from member states and the Eurasian Economic Commission for their productive collaboration. We remain committed to unlocking further economic potential and deepening integration for the benefit of our nations’ citizens and businesses.”
🗓 May 29, by decision of the Heads of States of the Eurasian Economic Union, is celebrated annually as #EAEUDay.
January 1 marked 1️⃣0️⃣years since the Treaty on the EAEU (signed on May 29, 2014) came into force, launching the Union as a regional integration association.
Over this time, the EAEU has proven to be asuccessful project of regional integration based on equality and consideration of each member’s interests. The Union has become an independent and self-sufficient centre of the emerging #MultipolarWorld.
The member-states of the Union — the EAEU "Five" — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia — have achieved significant progress: the Union's internal market is functioning and improving, mutual trade is demonstrating sustainable growth, cooperation is becoming closer in such areas as transportation, logistics, industry, agriculture, energy and food security.
📈Economic indicators speak for themselves: according to estimates available, the combined GDP of the EAEU member-states has increased from 1.6 to 2.5 trillion dollars over the 10 years of the Union's development.
In 2024, the growth of the GDP (on average in the Union) was recorded as 4.4%, thus, outpacing the global average growth of 3.3%. Trade with third countries has increased by 60%, while the share of the national currencies in mutual trade within the EAEU has reached 90%.
The Eurasian Economic Union has firmly established itself as a major actorin global economic affairs with an extensive network of partnerships. Today, free trade agreements of the EAEU with Vietnam🇻🇳, Iran🇮🇷, and Serbia🇷🇸 are already in force, with the two non-preferential agreements have been signed with China🇨🇳. Active efforts are being made to align the Union with China’s Belt and Road initiative.
The EAEU maintains close cooperation with the Union's observer-states, such as Uzbekistan🇺🇿, Cuba🇨🇺, and Iran🇮🇷. The trade talks the EAEU is holding with Indonesia🇮🇩, the UAE🇦🇪, and Mongolia🇲🇳 are nearing completion.
📰 An excerpt form the interview by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk for 'Rossiyskaya Gazeta' (May 28, 2025):
💬 <...> “We consider the EAEU to be the economic nucleus of Northern Eurasia — an area that has achieved a high level of socio-economic development and largely resolved issues of food and energy security.
This makes the EAEU "Five" an attractive partner for the Global South countries, many of which are still fighting the implications of their colonial dependence on Western Europe. <...>
Eurasia holds a vast creative potential, with nations both in the North and South committed to progress. Many of these countries are naturally seeking cooperation with Russia.”
🎙 From a briefing by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova(May 20, 2025):
💬 “Today, the EAEU stands as a paradigm of successful integration, where cooperation is built on principles of equality, trust, and respect, with due consideration for the interests of each member state.
We extend our congratulations ahead of EAEU Day and express gratitude to our colleagues from member states and the Eurasian Economic Commission for their productive collaboration. We remain committed to unlocking further economic potential and deepening integration for the benefit of our nations’ citizens and businesses.”
🗓 May 29, by decision of the Heads of States of the Eurasian Economic Union, is celebrated annually as #EAEUDay.
January 1 marked 1️⃣0️⃣years since the Treaty on the EAEU (signed on May 29, 2014) came into force, launching the Union as a regional integration association.
Over this time, the EAEU has proven to be asuccessful project of regional integration based on equality and consideration of each member’s interests. The Union has become an independent and self-sufficient centre of the emerging #MultipolarWorld.
The member-states of the Union — the EAEU "Five" — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia — have achieved significant progress: the Union's internal market is functioning and improving, mutual trade is demonstrating sustainable growth, cooperation is becoming closer in such areas as transportation, logistics, industry, agriculture, energy and food security.
📈Economic indicators speak for themselves: according to estimates available, the combined GDP of the EAEU member-states has increased from 1.6 to 2.5 trillion dollars over the 10 years of the Union's development.
In 2024, the growth of the GDP (on average in the Union) was recorded as 4.4%, thus, outpacing the global average growth of 3.3%. Trade with third countries has increased by 60%, while the share of the national currencies in mutual trade within the EAEU has reached 90%.
The Eurasian Economic Union has firmly established itself as a major actorin global economic affairs with an extensive network of partnerships. Today, free trade agreements of the EAEU with Vietnam🇻🇳, Iran🇮🇷, and Serbia🇷🇸 are already in force, with the two non-preferential agreements have been signed with China🇨🇳. Active efforts are being made to align the Union with China’s Belt and Road initiative.
The EAEU maintains close cooperation with the Union's observer-states, such as Uzbekistan🇺🇿, Cuba🇨🇺, and Iran🇮🇷. The trade talks the EAEU is holding with Indonesia🇮🇩, the UAE🇦🇪, and Mongolia🇲🇳 are nearing completion.
📰 An excerpt form the interview by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexei Overchuk for 'Rossiyskaya Gazeta' (May 28, 2025):
💬 <...> “We consider the EAEU to be the economic nucleus of Northern Eurasia — an area that has achieved a high level of socio-economic development and largely resolved issues of food and energy security.
This makes the EAEU "Five" an attractive partner for the Global South countries, many of which are still fighting the implications of their colonial dependence on Western Europe. <...>
Eurasia holds a vast creative potential, with nations both in the North and South committed to progress. Many of these countries are naturally seeking cooperation with Russia.”
🎙 From a briefing by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova(May 20, 2025):
💬 “Today, the EAEU stands as a paradigm of successful integration, where cooperation is built on principles of equality, trust, and respect, with due consideration for the interests of each member state.
We extend our congratulations ahead of EAEU Day and express gratitude to our colleagues from member states and the Eurasian Economic Commission for their productive collaboration. We remain committed to unlocking further economic potential and deepening integration for the benefit of our nations’ citizens and businesses.”