Russia Isolated: Western BS Lavrov Details Extent of Regional Cooperation

Today, Sergei Lavrov gave a speech at the XXXIX meeting of the Council of Heads of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation where he illustrates the success in defeating attempts to isolate Russia and to turn those attempts into opportunities. The primary reason for this success IMO is the foresight shown by Russia's government to involve all parts of Russia in its interactions with the world, particularly those of friendly nations not cowed by the Outlaw US Empire. The most obvious example of the failure of the Outlaw US Empire's attempt to isolate Russia is the rush of other nations to join the three major Russian affiliated international organizations: BRICS, EAEU and SCO. And the solidarity of OPEC+ ought to also be recognized. I should also point readers to the meeting Putin had yesterday with Industrial Development Fund Director Roman Petrutsa that illustrates another example of Russia's socialist development using market-based methods that provides resources so these interregional business relations can get started and prosper. What Lavrov details are the connections occurring within and without those organizations and ways in which they can expand:

Dear colleagues,

I am glad to welcome the participants of the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of Regions of the Russian Federation under the Foreign Ministry.

Our previous meeting was devoted to issues related to the fuller use of the potential of public diplomacy, including through the regions, to promote the interests of our country in the international arena. The reports received from the constituent entities of the Federation indicate the relevance of the recommendations formulated by us - it was possible to deploy systematic work with constructively minded NGOs, which is already beginning to bear fruit.

An equally relevant topic on the agenda today is the reformatting of international interregional ties in the context of adapting Russia's foreign policy to new geopolitical realities.

I will not say in detail that a real hybrid war has been unleashed against our country. At the same time, the overwhelming majority of the world's states – in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America – have not joined the anti-Russian sanctions, because they are guided by their fundamental national interests. Among them are our allies and like-minded countries in the EAEU, CSTO, CIS, SCO, BRICS and many other countries. Work continues with all of them to strengthen equal dialogue and cooperation in various formats, free from any pressure from those who try to dress up in the cassock of the "hegemon".

President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that the modern world is striving for multipolarity, including during the recent meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club. It is important to take this fundamental trend into account in full when building interregional cooperation, which should be focused on promoting sustainable development of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. We consider it important to support international projects that contribute to strengthening the country's technological sovereignty, developing parallel imports and import substitution, preserving enterprises created with the participation of foreign investors, as well as increasing the output of products necessary for the needs of a special military operation.

I would like to note that at one time more than 70 constituent entities of the Federation concluded cooperation agreements with the DPR and LPR, the implementation of which contributes to their final integration into the all-Russian space. Now on the agenda is assistance to new Russian regions in establishing their external contacts.

The following tasks seem to be priorities for "regional diplomacy" in the context of our agenda today.

Work through the Union State is very much in demand. Today, 85 Russian regions, including Crimea, are engaged in close trade and economic cooperation with Belarus. It is difficult to overestimate the role of Russian-Belarusian interregional forums held under the auspices of the upper houses of parliaments.

The resource of cooperation between the regions should be used to the maximum extent both within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union and the CIS. In 2023, Russia will chair the EAEU. This year will be devoted to building cooperation with third countries and their associations.

The development of interregional relations with friendly states from among not only neighbors, but also from other regions of the world is of great importance. Many today understand that with the departure from Russia of a number of Western companies (they were forbidden to work in our country), promising "niches" are opening up in the domestic market that could be filled by their economic operators.

We note the serious interest of our SCO partners in the activities of the Forum of Heads of Regions of the SCO, which was created at the initiative of Russia. The third meeting within its framework was held in Tashkent on August 3-4 this year with the participation of a representative delegation of Russian regions. We support Chelyabinsk's initiative to hold the IV Forum in 2023 in Russia, in coordination with India's presidency of the SCO.

Strengthening dialogue with BRICS partners remains a priority. A special role is assigned to the development of relations at the level of cities, municipalities and regions, in particular within the framework of forums of twin cities and municipalities. It is gratifying that the latter involves in its orbit representatives not only of the "five" states, but also of like-minded countries. We look forward to the successful holding of the BRICS International Municipal Forum in St. Petersburg at the end of November this year.

Interregional contacts with the PRC are moving very dynamically. Two-thirds of our country's regions are bound by cooperation agreements with Chinese provinces. The geography of interaction from year to year is replenished with new participants, enriched with new formats.

The relevance of interregional cooperation with India has increased many times. The partners are interested not only in increasing the supply of energy, agricultural products, fertilizers and precious metals from Russia, but also in organizing joint ventures in various fields.

The intensity of contacts with Turkey has increased significantly. The priority of cooperation with the Iranian side is the development of logistics and financial and banking infrastructure. Cooperation in the Caspian region is developing on an increasing basis, the impetus for which was given by the2nd Caspian Economic Forum held in Moscow in October.

A number of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, in particular Crimea, are actively cooperating with the Syrian Arab Republic. Business contacts with the UAE are also being consistently strengthened - in the investment, banking, agricultural and industrial spheres. There is a tendency to intensify business and humanitarian ties with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman. This process is due to the fact that many domestic companies are increasing their ties with the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf as promising regional "hubs".

We consider the development of smart cities as a promising area in the context of strengthening the Russia-ASEAN strategic partnership. "Ten" demonstrates a genuine interest in the exchange of experience with Russia in this area. Our megacities have something to offer in the field of digitalization of urban economy and management.

Cooperation with the states of the African continent, which was stimulated by the first Russia-Africa summit, has withstood the test of the pandemic and continues to develop steadily. Currently, preparations are underway for the second summit meeting, at which it is planned to develop consolidated decisions in the interests of increasing trade, economic and investment cooperation. I hope for the interested participation of our regions in this work.

Our Latin American colleagues are still and are growing interested in interacting with the regions of the Russian Federation. The National Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean was making a useful contribution to its development.

It is necessary to strengthen cross-border ties with southern and eastern neighbors in every possible way on the basis of the Concept of Cross-Border Cooperation of the Russian Federation.

One of the key tasks in this area is the accelerated modernization of our entire border and transport infrastructure, primarily border crossings with China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, to ensure growing cargo flows, develop transport connectivity in the country, and implement international transport and logistics corridors.

I have already mentioned the inter-municipal cooperation that has been established through BRICS. We consider it important to expand it to other venues and establish more active ties in the format of twin cities.

The solution of all these tasks will require coordinated work of all state authorities in charge of international activities, the authorities of the constituent entities of the Federation and the expert community. The ultimate goal of common efforts should be to increase the practical impact of international and foreign economic relations of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the interests of ensuring their socio-economic development and improving the level and quality of life of citizens. The Russian Foreign Ministry, Rossotrudnichestvo, the Foreign Ministry's representative offices in the regions and our foreign missions will provide all possible assistance to this.