Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's participation in the 45th BSEC Ministerial Meeting
21 December 2022 16:17
2614-21-12-2022
On December 21, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took part in the 45th meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation (BSEC), held via videoconference.
The participants summed up the results of cooperation among the Greater Black Sea Region countries in this international organisation over the past 30 years, and discussed a wide range of topical matters on the BSEC's agenda, including transport and logistics development, reinforcing energy security amid the ongoing energy transition, and digital transformation.
In his remarks, Sergey Lavrov focused on strengthening the Black Sea region's status as an independent actor in the global economy. Russia's economic priorities include expanding regional connectivity in trade, transport and energy. The head of the Russian delegation went on to stress the importance of maintaining a constructive, politics-free dialogue for promoting steady development across this geographical space.
The Foreign Minister emphasised the importance of an equitable and balanced approach to developing ties between the BSEC and the leading regional integration structures, especially the Eurasian Economic Union as it continues generating positive momentum in its development. He also highlighted Russia's key initiatives to expand the Black Sea Region's economic potential, including a major gas distribution hub together with Türkiye and other foreign partners, and unblocking Russian food and fertiliser exports to the countries that need them while circumventing the Western sanctions. Sergey Lavrov shared specific examples of efforts to increase trade with the BSEC countries in 2022. In particular, Russia's trade with Türkiye doubled, reaching $45 billion.
Serbia will assume BCES Chairmanship in the first half of 2023.
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