Andrey Slepnev, Member of the
Board – Minister in charge of Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission, held
meetings with the UN Director General in Geneva as well as Heads of the UN
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the UN Economic Commission for
Europe (UNECE) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) during his working
visit to Switzerland.
The Minister informed about the ongoing work to strengthen the international
positioning of the Eurasian Economic Union during his conversation with Tatyana
Valovaya, Director General of the UN Office. "Your support for developing
cooperation between the Commission and the UN organizations in Geneva is of
utmost importance to us," Andrey Slepnev addressed the Head of the UN
Office.
During the meeting with Isabelle Durant, Acting Secretary-General of UNCTAD,
the EEC Minister stressed high level of cooperation between the two
organizations and the importance of its outcomes in such issues as elimination
of non-tariff barriers, consumer rights protection, e-commerce, etc.
Andrey Slepnev drew attention of his colleague to the
importance of continuing the dialogue as well as the Commission's readiness to
contribute to the research and discussions being conducted at the UNCTAD’s
venue. "It is required to make joint efforts to ensure conformity of
current technological transformation of economies catalyzed by COVID-19 and
relevant creation of new national and regional digital platforms without
creating new concerns over their mutual integration," the Minister
noticed.
The sides agreed to hold an
additional exchange of views on existing cooperation plans in the near future
and to start implementing them.
In turn, Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary of the UNECE, was informed on the
great relevance for the EAEU of the UNECE work in the areas of digital
transport corridors (including harmonization of e-documents), closed-loop
economy and e-commerce development. Besides, the Minister endorsed efforts
being made by the UNECE to strengthen connectivity in the Central Asian region.
Cooperation plan of the Eurasian Economic Commission and the UNECE for the
coming years was finally coordinated during the meeting, and this arrangement
will be formalized in the near future.
An arrangement was reached with Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Secretary of
the ITC, on the key areas of cooperation being of joint interest. Andrey
Slepnev informed his colleagues that the Eurasian Economic Commission would
consider the possibility of deepening interaction in the field of e-commerce
and digital transport corridors, including in the project format.
During the
meetings, the Minister repeatedly emphasized the importance of international
organizations as venues for an optimal decision-making during the ongoing
technological transformation.
Andrey Slepnev and Heads of Permanent Missions of the EAEU Member States in
Geneva also discussed the substance of the visit and issues of current
interaction during the conversation organized by the Permanent Mission of the
Republic of Kazakhstan to the UN Office and other international organizations
in Geneva as the State chairing the Union's governing bodies in 2021.