Uzbekistan24/11/2007CIS heads of government discuss interregional, cross border cooperation
The meeting agenda included some 30 items related to CIS countries cooperation in transportation, fuel and energy sector, military, social, humanitarian and other spheres. The meeting also focused on interregional and cross border cooperation and partnership in anti-aircraft defence, Turkmenistan.ru reports.
As Victor Yanukovich noted at a press conference, "economic cooperation has been a cornerstone issue." In this regards, the importance of preparation of a strategy of CIS countries’ economic development was discussed at the meeting. The forum also discussed the progress in fulfilling a plan on carrying out measures aimed at developing and improving the efficiency of cooperation of CIS countries in the economic sphere for 2003-2010.
A number of documents were signed in the end of the meeting, including in the field of adopting a common policy in standardization, meteorology and certification as well as streamlining customs procedures in exporting electricity across customs borders of CIS countries. It was decided to set up a group composed of agriculture ministers to develop a strategy of food market development. The CIS heads of government also discussed a concept of distance learning in CIS countries and the issue of attaching the status of base institutions of CIS countries to some high education establishments.
The meeting participants agreed to set up permanent exhibitions of CIS countries in the premises of the All Russia Exhibition Center in Moscow and to proclaim the year of 2008 Year of Literature and Reading in the Commonwealth of Independent States.
The next meeting of the CIS heads of government council will be held in Minsk in May 2008.