On December 21, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov will take part in the 45th meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), which will be held in an online format.
This year, the Organization, created with the participation of Russia, celebrated its 30th anniversary. The BSEC approached this milestone date with a solid baggage of achievements, having formed an extensive institutional framework for strengthening multifaceted economic cooperation in the interests of the countries of the region.
The Black Sea region traditionally plays an important role in world economic affairs, acting as one of the key crossroads of trade and transport routes. In the current international conditions, its importance is increasing as a major gas, food and logistics hub.
Russian industry priorities in the region include the development of transport and logistics, strengthening energy security in the context of energy transition, digitalization, and trade facilitation. They are aimed at using the potential of the Organization to promote domestic economic operators, including representatives of small and medium-sized businesses.
We also intend to develop the humanitarian dimension of multilateral cooperation in the Black Sea region. We will promote integration into the activities of the BSEC, the Association for the Promotion of Multilateral Cooperation in the Field of Science and Education, established on the basis of the Southern Federal University.
We are consistently strengthening the Organization’s capacity to implement technical assistance projects in various fields. Since 2016, at the expense of $1 million allocated by Russia, a number of projects in the Black Sea region in various fields have been successfully implemented.
It is important that the initiatives of other countries and associations that followed the Russian initiative also meet the development goals of the Black Sea states involved in project activities, and not the political ambitions of donors.
We will make efforts to ensure that pragmatism prevails in building trade and economic relations of most countries in the region. This depoliticized approach is the fundamental principle of the work of the BSEC and is the key to the development and well-being of the inhabitants of the Black Sea countries.
During the event, it will be necessary to summarize the results of the joint work of the states, it is planned to consider a wide range of topical issues on the BSEC agenda, outline medium-term plans aimed at improving the efficiency and practical impact of its work.
A source: https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1844660/
