Putin to take part in Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Astana on Fri

MOSCOW. May 26 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC) in Astana on Friday.

"On Friday, May 29, the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council will begin its meeting in the morning - first in a narrow format, and then in an expanded format," Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov told reporters.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, and Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, as well as Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan attended the narrow-format meeting, he said.

Representatives of observer states - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Cuban Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa and Iranian Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade Seyed Mohammad Atabak will join them in an expanded format.

The narrow-format meeting is expected to discuss Armenia's possible accession to the European Union, outside the agenda.

Ushakov said that reports would be presented at the SEEC meeting regarding the implementation of the strategic trends of Eurasian economic integration through 2025 and regarding efforts to put plans for individual service sectors into practice. The leaders will also be informed of the outcome of work in governing the activities of natural monopolies.

"The leaders will hear a report on the results of the 20-year activities of the Eurasian Development Bank, which is the union's main financial body," he said.

"Kazakhstan holds the presidency this year. We support our Kazakh friends' initiatives, which are being adopted under their presidency. Kyrgyzstan will take over presidency [in the union] on January 1, 2027," Ushakov said.

He noted the union's strong performance. He said that the combined GDP of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states has reached $3 trillion, while trade among the EAEU countries has more than doubled since the union's inception. Trade with third countries has boosted 72%.

Another EAEU event is scheduled for the eve of the meeting.

"Our president will take part in the fifth Eurasian Economic Forum on Thursday evening. The forum's theme is the EAEU in the global digital race, focusing on artificial intelligence," Ushakov told reporters.

He explained that a country that holds the EAEU presidency hosts such forums annually.

"This is a major economic event. Around 3,000 people from 45 countries are expected to attend. Russia will be represented by a large delegation of around 400 people, including representatives of businesses, business associations, and scientific experts," Ushakov said.

A plenary session will be the central event of the forum, at which the leaders of the EAEU member states will address the forum, he said. The deputy prime minister will represent Armenia.

"In his speech, our president will evaluate the current level of digitalization and development of artificial intelligence globally within the EAEU, and will formulate a vision of guidelines for further deepening integration and making member states more competitive in this area," Ushakov said.

He noted that Putin would also speak about Russia's efforts to implement artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

"Following the forum, the heads of state will adopt a joint statement on the development and widespread implementation of artificial intelligence technologies in EAEU member states," Ushakov said.

He added that the leaders would visit an exhibition where they will familiarize themselves with five national interactive stands dedicated to the achievements of EAEU countries in digital transformation and AI development following the forum on Thursday.