DUSHANBE, October 19. /TASS/. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref discussed cooperation between Tehran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said in conclusion of the Russian-Iranian talks in Dushanbe.
"The Eurasian Economic Union is currently scaling up its engagement with the countries of the Global South. As you know, we are expanding our network of free trade agreements, specifically with Iran also. Significant time was dedicated to this topic today as well because a free trade agreement allows us to largely eliminate the problems that might have existed if there was no such agreement," Overchuk said.
The parallel work in this direction is also underway with other nations, the Russian deputy prime minister said. "An interim agreement with Mongolia has come into force, as has one with the United Arab Emirates. Work is also being carried out to bring the agreement with Indonesia into force. In addition, negotiations are underway with India, and consultations have been held with Pakistan. Just last week, we met with the Prime Minister of Thailand [Anutin Charnvirakul], and he also raised the issue of a free trade zone with Thailand," Overchuk noted.
"In other words, we now see our primary goal in expanding opportunities to establish free trade between the Eurasian Economic Union and other nations, primarily, of course, on the Asian continent and in the Global South. This is the task we are currently dealing with," he added.