Over 40 countries and unions would like to be partners of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said.

Over 40 countries and unions would like to be partners of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said.

"We are holding negotiations with a number of partners. Most probably, these negotiations will go on. Anyway, more than 40 countries and unions wishing to establish such relationship with the EEU have formally expressed their interest in having trade relations of a particular kind, on various levels and of various degrees of intensity," Medvedev said at a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council on May 29.

The Russian prime minister added that the work on a free trade zone agreement between the EEU and Vietnam planned to be signed on Friday "was not easy."

The experience acquired in those preparations will be in demand in the conclusion of new agreements, he said.

Medvedev described the agreement with Vietnam as a breakthrough decision. "In fact, this is our first preferential international treaty with a third party. Vietnam will enjoy additional opportunities on our markets, and we believe that these opportunities will not be limited to trade but also include cooperation in investment," the prime minister said.

"This [agreement with Vietnam] is a truly serious recognition of our effort to create an integration union of full value," Medvedev said.

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