On October 28, Astana hosted a regular meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

According to the CIS’ press service, the event was attended by the heads of government of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov, Belarus - Roman Golovchenko, Kyrgyzstan - Akylbek Zhaparov, Russia - Mikhail Mishustin, Tajikistan - Kokhir Rasulzoda, Uzbekistan - Abdulla Aripov, as well as Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Hojamyrat Geldimyradov.

The parties considered all issues included in the agenda and adopted more than 20 documents, and also exchanged views on topical issues of economic cooperation in the CIS, discussed the preparation of a draft agreement on free trade in services, the establishment, operation and investment.

They also heard a report on the holding of the II Games of the CIS countries in August next year in Belarus. Information on this issue was made by the head of the organizing committee for ensuring the preparation and holding of the games, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Igor Petrishenko.

The heads of government also discussed and signed an agreement on cooperation in preventing and responding to public health emergencies of a sanitary and epidemiological nature. In addition, the Council of Heads of Government approved a joint action plan for the CIS member states to counteract antimicrobial resistance.

The parties alos approved the concept of scientific, technical and technological cooperation and the concept of digital transformation of the branches of the chemical complex of the CIS member states, as well as action plans for their implementation. Decisions were signed on the interstate radio navigation program for 2023–2026 and on the interstate target program “Reclamation of the territories of states affected by uranium mining.”

The parties also approved the regulation on the operator of the interstate program of innovative cooperation of the CIS member states for the period up to 2030 and the regulation on the accreditation procedure and conditions for the participation of legal entities and individuals in this program.

Another document reviewed and approved at the level of heads of government was the plan of priority actions in the field of humanitarian cooperation for 2023-2024. In terms of cooperation in the field of defense and security, the heads of government approved funding for the further development of the unified air defense system of the CIS member states.

In addition, a large block of issues on financial support for the activities of the CIS bodies was considered at the meeting of the council. It was decided to hold the next meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States on June 7, 2023 in Sochi.