Fifth Eurasian Economic Forum Held in Astana, Deepening Eurasian Integration Through Digital Empowerment

Astana, May 28 – The 5th Eurasian Economic Forum officially opened at the Astana EXPO Exhibition Center on May 28, 2026. Hosted by Kazakhstan, this flagship economic and trade event marks the country’s assumption of the rotating presidency of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) for 2026. Coinciding with the 12th anniversary of the signing of the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty, the forum gathered more than 3,000 representatives from government, business and international institutions across 44 countries, hitting a new record in scale.

Under the theme “The Eurasian Economic Union in the Global Digital Race: Betting on Artificial Intelligence”, the forum was attended by the Presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan. Armenia was represented by its Deputy Prime Minister. High-level delegations from EAEU observer states including Vietnam, Cuba, Mongolia, Iran and Uzbekistan, as well as multiple international organizations, participated in the event. Participants conducted in-depth discussions and practical cooperation docking focusing on five key areas: digital transformation, AI empowerment, trade upgrading, logistics connectivity and financial cooperation.

I. Well-structured Core Agenda

The forum’s agenda balanced strategic planning and practical implementation, consisting of four major segments: plenary sessions, thematic seminars, government-business dialogues and international cooperation consultations, with a total of 32 special sessions covering comprehensive cooperation scenarios. At the plenary meetings, heads of state and senior officials of member states delivered keynote speeches, assessed the global economic situation, and clarified the annual development priorities and medium-to-long-term strategic layout of the EAEU. Thematic seminars focused on unified AI technical standards, cross-border data flows, intelligent customs clearance and logistics, digital agriculture, industrial digital transformation, and labor market upgrading. Meanwhile, multilateral and bilateral docking activities were held to negotiate practical projects in cross-border transportation, digital economy and trade, and industrial capacity cooperation with the United Nations and other international institutions as well as partner countries, further improving the Eurasian regional integration system.

II. Major Agreements and Cooperation Intentions Reached

The forum yielded fruitful strategic and practical outcomes, consolidating the foundation for the EAEU’s transformation and upgrading. First, it officially adopted the Eurasian Economic Union Development Strategy until 2029, identifying artificial intelligence, digital economy, energy cooperation, smart logistics and modern agriculture as the core priorities for regional integration in the next three years, and clarifying the overall roadmap for the Union’s digital transformation. Second, a joint statement on EAEU AI cooperation was issued, reaching consensus on unifying regional AI technical standards, building a cross-border digital governance system, and sharing computing power and technological resources to promote the large-scale application of AI in cross-border economic and trade scenarios. Third, a memorandum of understanding on cross-border transportation digitalization was signed between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the United Nations, advancing the digital upgrading of Eurasian land transport corridors to reduce cross-border trade costs.

In addition, the EAEU has further advanced independent financial cooperation, with local currency settlement within the Union exceeding 90 percent of total transactions. Member states agreed to continuously promote the interconnection of payment systems and fintech collaboration to reduce external financial dependence. The Union also reached intentions to deepen free trade cooperation with partner countries including Iran and Uzbekistan, expanding the Eurasian economic and trade cooperation circle and improving an open and diversified regional cooperation framework. Russia put forward initiatives to establish an international artificial intelligence alliance and host high-level global AI conferences, aiming to advance international coordination on Eurasian digital technologies.

III. Far-reaching Impacts on the Global Economic Landscape

Rooted in Eurasia and radiating across the globe, the forum has profoundly driven the restructuring of the global economic pattern, industrial system and trade rules. Firstly, it breaks the Western-dominated traditional economic, trade and technological rule system, forming an independent and integrated Eurasian economic loop centered on digital trade, local currency settlement and smart logistics. It diversifies global multilateral economic development models, hedges against global economic fragmentation and unilateral protectionism, and provides a new paradigm for cooperation among emerging economies. Secondly, it reshapes the global landscape of digital and AI competition. Leveraging its vast market, complete industrial foundation and energy advantages, the EAEU has built exclusive regional AI standards and digital governance rules, breaking the monopoly of a few developed countries over global digital rules and promoting the diversification of global digital governance.

Thirdly, the forum optimizes the layout of global supply chains and logistics systems. It advances the digital upgrading of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor and China-Europe Railway Express, and the intelligent customs clearance system greatly improves the efficiency of Eurasian land trade, reducing over-reliance on traditional maritime shipping and significantly enhancing the resilience and security of global industrial and supply chains. Fourthly, it accelerates the multi-polar transformation of the global financial system. The EAEU’s large-scale local currency settlement practice serves as a key reference for global de-monopolized monetary cooperation and risk aversion, driving the global financial system toward multi-polarization, independence and stability. In the long run, the forum accelerates the EAEU’s transformation from a traditional tariff union to a digital economic union, emerging as a vital new engine for global economic growth and regional integration.

IV. Western Countries’ Attitudes Led by the US and Europe

Facing the accelerated integration of the EAEU demonstrated by the forum, the United States, the European Union and other Western countries have adopted an overall stance of heightened vigilance, divisive containment and passive observation. First, Western countries remain highly alert to the EAEU’s advancement of digital independence, local currency settlement and non-Western trade systems. They believe that in-depth Eurasian integration will challenge the Western-dominated global economic, trade, financial and digital rule system, erode their geopolitical and economic discourse power, and reshape the Eurasian geopolitical and economic landscape by diverting global economic and trade resources.

Second, the EU has continued its divisive and containment strategy, actively courting EAEU member states and particularly promoting Armenia’s westward alignment and integration with the EU to weaken internal cohesion within the EAEU. Russia has publicly warned that excessive alignment of Armenia with the EU may cause it to lose preferential tariffs, energy benefits and trade privileges within the Eurasian bloc, intensifying geopolitical games inside the Union. At present, the US and Europe have not introduced targeted confrontational sanctions and remain on standby to observe the implementation progress and actual influence of the EAEU’s digital transformation and financial independence initiatives.

Overall, the US and Europe currently adopt soft containment and regional division tactics without fierce confrontation. Nevertheless, they will continue to curb Eurasian integration in the long term. Differentiated competition and rule games between the Eurasian regional system and Western economic systems will become a normal feature of the global economy.

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