During a meeting in Moscow on October 8, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to participate in the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan, according to the Armenian government’s press service.
Putin emphasized the importance of this event, noting that it would provide an opportunity not only for bilateral talks between Russia and Armenia but also for dialogue with representatives from dozens of other participating countries.
Against the backdrop of this invitation, the Russian leader highlighted the sharp rise in economic cooperation between the two countries. He stated that trade turnover between Russia and Armenia reached $7.4 billion last year, and in the first six months of this year, it had already totaled $8.3 billion. If current growth rates continue, Putin predicted that annual trade turnover could reach $14-16 billion.
Additionally, Putin underlined Russia's role as the leading foreign investor in Armenia's economy, with total investments amounting to approximately $4 billion. He also praised the work of the intergovernmental commission and the business council in strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
Prime Minister Pashinyan, in turn, noted the increased Armenian-Russian political dialogue in recent months, mentioning the recent visit of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk to Yerevan and the intergovernmental conference of the EAEU held in early October.
The BRICS summit, to which Armenia has been invited, will take place from October 22-24 in Kazan. Earlier, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan confirmed the country’s participation in the BRICS summit.
The founding members of BRICS are Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates have since joined the organization, while Azerbaijan and Turkey have also submitted applications to join BRICS.
