Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the plenary session of the 8th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. The forum is being held in Vladivostok on 10-13 September. Its motto is “On the way to cooperation, peace and prosperity.” “Vedomosti” cites the main statements of Putin at the plenary session of the EEF.
On the changing global markets
The President said that the global economy has changed and continues to change. This is happening because Western countries, according to Putin, are destroying the system of trade, financial and economic ties. At the same time, the space for business co-operation is expanding and countries that follow their national interests are becoming participants.
The main thing for them is to promote their own projects in energy, industry, humanitarian sphere, etc., Putin said. He concludes that a new model of relations is being born not for a select few, but for the whole of humanity and the entire multipolar world. And in this context, openness is becoming a key factor in the Asia-Pacific market.
On the wealth of the Far East
Putin recalled that 10 years ago in his address to the Federal Assembly he said that the advanced development of the Far Eastern regions is Russia’s priority for the 21st century. The growth of investments in the Far Eastern regions over the last ten years has amounted to 39%, the rate of development here is higher than the Russian average, the President noted. In addition, the President stressed that the percentage of subsoil exploration in the Far East is only 35%. Therefore, there is a possibility of multiple growth of extractive industries, Putin said.
Expansion of Far Eastern mortgages
The President proposed to raise the upper limit of the Far Eastern mortgage, which is issued at 2%, to 9 million rubles, and to extend it not only to teachers and doctors, as it is now, but also to employees of defence-industrial complex companies operating in the Far East.
On the development of gas infrastructure
Russia plans to link the Power of Siberia and the Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok gas pipelines, and after that to include them in the unified gas supply system of the country, the President said. According to him, this will make it possible to integrate the gas transmission networks of western and eastern Russia into one system. This will make it possible to expand the gasification programme for the Transbaikal Territory, Buryatia and other regions of the Far East. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak wrote about such a goal in the Energy Policy magazine on 6 September.
On whether there will be a new mobilisation in Russia
Putin reminded in response to this question that 300,000 people were drafted into the Russian Armed Forces last autumn under partial mobilisation, with 270,000 people having voluntarily signed contracts for military service in the last 6-7 months alone. Putin noted that people do this “consciously and voluntarily,” realising that they may lose their lives to protect the interests of the Motherland. According to him, the servicemen “know that they have someone to protect.” The President emphasised that Russia “protects our people”.
On Volozh and Chubais
The President believes that the anti-war statement by Yandex co-founder Arkady Volozh is related to his desire to live well in Israel and have good relations with the local authorities. “He sat and kept silent for a long time, then decided to make a statement. Well, God bless him, may he live well there,” Putin said. The head of state believes that a person who has become successful in something should have a “sense of conscience” with regard to the country that “gave him everything”. Commenting on the emigration of ex-Rosnano head Anatoly Chubais, Putin suggested that he “fled” because of a “huge financial hole” in the state corporation.
On Ukraine’s counteroffensive and negotiations
The offensive actions of the Ukrainian armed forces have not brought Kiev any results, the president is sure. The Ukrainian army’s personnel losses, according to Putin, have reached 71,500 since the beginning of the counter-offensive. According to him, when analysing the actions of the AFU, one gets the impression that these are “not their people at all, whom they are throwing into this counter-offensive”. If Washington believes that Kiev is ready for negotiations with Moscow, the head of state said, then let it cancel the decree of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky refusing to negotiate with Russia.
On relations with Armenia
Moscow does not have any problems with Yerevan or Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Putin stressed. At the same time, the unstable situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is primarily related to Yerevan’s recognition of Baku’s sovereignty over the territory. “If Armenia has recognised that Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan – that’s it, what are we talking about?” – the president believes.
On the future of Russia
The future of the country depends only on Russians themselves, Putin said. Russia, he said, should be self-sufficient, but this does not mean isolation of the country.
“It means that in co-operation with our partners and friends, in integration with the vast majority of countries <…> we will develop our own country and make it even stronger,” he said.
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