«Our development of Eurasian integration is not connected with the current situation and conjuncture, not at all,» the President of Russia Vladimir Putin said at the 1st Eurasian Economic Forum.
He recalled that the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was created many years ago. At that time, Russia considered building relations with immediate, natural neighbors in the common economy within the framework of the Soviet Union as the highest priority for itself.
«Then we began to build relations within the framework of the so-called great Eurasian partnership. This was not due to the political situation, but due to global economic trends in the world: due to the fact that the center of economic development is gradually, gradually — we know this very well, and business representatives are well aware of this — moving, and this movement continues to this day, to the Asia-Pacific region,» Vladimir Putin said.
«Many of our partners have said they were leaving Russia. Sometimes you look and think, maybe, thank God that it happened? Our production has grown up and will safely «sit down» on the soil prepared earlier by them. Nothing will change. And people who drove Mercedes 600 can bring them from other countries. This is not important for us,» the Russian president said.
He acknowledged that the business of the EAEU is facing problems against the backdrop of Western sanctions pressure. But now the EAEU countries are actively building new technological and transport chains.
«We are getting stronger. We get new competencies and begin to consolidate our finances in breakthrough areas. Yes, we could not do everything in terms of import substitution, but there is nothing to worry about. Import substitution was necessary to create engineering and scientific centers. This is inevitable for any country that wants to increase its economic, financial and political sovereignty. Life itself urged us to act in this direction. Russia will actively work with the countries of the EAEU, the CIS and Latin America,» Vladimir Putin concluded.
