China and Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union may set up free trade zone

[link to rt.com]


China may establish a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) in the future, says the Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov. It would make trade with Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and soon Kyrgyzstan tariff-free.

“At first the Chinese were cautious about the Eurasian Trade Union; they just needed to make sure that it works. Now they are increasingly showing interest in participation with the union, not just with Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan on an individual basis, but with the union per se,” Denisov told RIA in an interview published on Monday.

As far as I know they [the Chinese – Ed.] offered us, the members of this Union –EEU – to think long-term about the creation of a free trade zone. Well, this is probably the case, even if it’s far off in the future.

The Eurasian Economic Union includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus and Kazakhstan and was officially launched on January 1. Kyrgyzstan has said it will join, with accession expected by the end of May.

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