Eurasian Economic Forum | 11 Sep 2019

Recently, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) organized the Eurasian Economic Union meeting.

  • The forum called for greater cooperation in the spheres of communication, technology, and development amongst its member-nations.
  • The entire event was organized to discuss and deliberate upon China’s Belt and Road Initiative, because of which India, despite being present in the SCO summit, decided to skip this meeting.
  • The forum promoted the revival of the ancient Great Silk Road in Eurasia in a new, modern format.
  • On the sidelines of this summit, in the meeting on economics and tourism, speakers pushed the idea of the SCO member states’ Eight Wonders Exhibition Tour, in which one historical monument or place corresponding to each member country will be represented on the pamphlet.
    • For Kazakhstan, it was the Petroglyphs of Tamgaly,
    • For China, it was the Daming Palace of the Tang dynasty, and
    • For India, the monument chosen was the 182-metre Statue Of Unity of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Ancient Silk Route

  • It was a network of trade routes that linked ancient regions of the world for the promotion of trade & commerce.
  • It was regularly used during China’s Han dynasty rule from from 2nd century BC to 14th century AD.
  • It stretched from China via India to Mesopotamia, Africa, Greece, Rome & Britain.

Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)

  • The Eurasian Economic Union is an international organization for regional economic integration that came into existence on 1st January 2015.
  • The EAEU provides for free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor within its borders.
  • It pursues, coordinates, & harmonizes the policies in the sectors determined by the Treaty and international agreements within the Union.
  • The member states of the Eurasian Economic Union are,
    • The Republic of Armenia,
    • The Republic of Belarus,
    • The Republic of Kazakhstan,
    • The Kyrgyz Republic, and
    • The Russian Federation.

Source: IE