Russia wants Serbia in the Eurasian Free Trade Zone

Russia and Serbia are strengthening co-operation, especially in terms of transport infrastructure, Putin said after meeting with Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vuciq.

The parties also want to improve banking co-operation according to the Russian president.

Putin said Moscow and Belgrade are exploring Serbia's access to the Turkish gas pipeline.

He said Russian energy companies are successfully working on the Serbian market and Russian natural gas supplies in the country could reach 3.5 billion cubic metres by 2022.

“Velments of Russian gas supplies to Serbia have increased by one quarter and are over two billion cubic metres,” said Putin.

The EEU is a trade block created in 2015 based on Russia's Customs Union, Kazakhstan and Belarus, reports “RT” Transmission Periscope.

Armenia and Kyrgyzstan were later joined. In 2016, Vietnam officially became the first non-regional country to join the bloc, which is designed to ensure the free movement of goods, services, capital and workers among member states.

More than 40 countries and international organisations, including China, Indonesia and Iran, as well as some South American countries, have expressed interest in a free trade agreement with the EU.

The trade bloc has also held talks with South Korea, with Egypt, Iran and India./Periscopi/