CIS PMs vow to boost trade, economic ties

MOSCOW -- The government heads of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members have pledged to enhance economic cooperation, boost trade as well as cultural ties, according to reports reaching here.

The meeting, held in Belarussian capital Minsk on Friday, focused on some 20 issues, mostly concerning economy, and made corresponding solutions, Itar-Tass and Interfax cited Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Sergei Lebedev.

Belarussian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky, as the new chair of the Council of CIS Prime Ministers, asked his colleagues to draft a CIS economic development strategy within the next five months and to present it at the CIS summit in November.

He also suggested CIS member states to facilitate energy cooperation and promote innovation in a bid to stimulate economic growth in those post-Soviet countries.

The Council of Heads of  Government also approved Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's initiative of granting World War II veterans living in the CIS the use of any form of public transportation in any CIS country free of charge.