Website of the President of Russia: Photos: Trips

Trip to Samara

2025-11-07T12:02:47+04:00

During a working trip to Samara, Vladimir Putin addressed the plenary session of the 13^th Russia – Country of Sports International Sports Forum and chaired a meeting of the Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sports.

The President also visited the Orbita sports and recreation complex, where he talked with young figure skaters and basketball players. The head of state also took part in a videoconference presentation of new sports facilities that opened in Russian regions in 2025.

Presentation of newly inaugurated sports facilities in Russian regions

2025-11-07T12:05:06+04:00

A presentation of new sports facilities that opened in Russian regions in 2025 was held for the President via videoconference. The event took place at the Orbita sports and recreation complex.

The projects showcased included the Krymsky Training Centre for Russian National Teams in Alushta, a Volleyball Centre in Ulan-Ude, a Martial Arts Palace in Izhevsk, a Football Development Centre in Kazan, and a Table Tennis Academy – a sports boarding school for gifted children – in Orenburg.

The sports infrastructure across Russia has seen over 2,500 facilities built and renovated over the past five years.

Visit to Pyotr Mandryk Central Military Clinical Hospital

2025-10-29T20:07:24+04:00

Vladimir Putin visited the Pyotr Mandryk Central Military Clinical Hospital of the Russian Federation Defence Ministry, where servicemen of the Armed Forces are undergoing treatment and rehabilitation after being wounded while carrying out combat missions during the special military operation.

Accompanied by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and Head of the hospital Pavel Krainyukov, the President visited the hospital’s surgery unit, where he met with servicemen from the 127^th Separate Reconnaissance Brigade.

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Conversation with servicemen

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: We will go to see [Ruslan Kolyvanov] shortly and have a chat with him. They will bring some tea for him as well. God willing, we hope he recovers soon.

The doctor has just said that all of you here have been wounded. I want to emphasise – and I have said this many times, deliberately and with full conviction – that everyone who is in the special military operation zone, on the frontline, in combat, they tact heroically. You know perfectly well that an attack can come any second and hit any place.

But assault units, special forces and army reconnaissance units – people like you – this requires exceptional endurance and strength of character. These are obvious things. And I am truly pleased to note that we have such people as you. Thank you very much.

You know that your efforts are not in vain. Overall, the situation in the zone of the special military operation is developing favourably for us. Your comrades-in-arms are advancing on all fronts and conducting active operations.

As you know, and it has been publicly reported, in two locations, Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeisk, the enemy has been surrounded and blocked from moving further.

I have discussed this matter with the commanders of the respective groups. Mr Belousov, they have no objections to allowing members of the press, foreign and Ukrainian journalists, to enter the entrapment zone and see for themselves what is happening there. They should see the condition of the encircled Ukrainian troops, as this would prompt Ukraine’s political leadership to make decisions about the fate of their citizens and personnel – similar to what was done at Azovstal. They will be given this opportunity.

Our only concern is that there are no provocations from Ukraine. We are willing to cease hostilities for an agreed period of time – whether it be several hours, two, three, or six hours – to allow groups of journalists into those cities where they can observe the situation, speak to the Ukrainian troops, and then leave. We are ready to bring them to designated entry points, where the Ukrainian personnel can receive them and escort them to the other side.

The most important thing is to prevent any provocations from Ukraine. There must be no drone attacks that could harm these journalists for the purpose of blaming the incident on us. We do not need this. On the contrary, we are ready to proceed as I have described. The question is whether the Ukrainian side is ready. This is the first issue I wanted to raise.

It is obvious that you are performing your duty diligently in this sector. But I believe that understanding the broader developments at the line of contact and at the frontline is also essential for you. This is the situation unfolding there.

What you and your comrades-in-arms – our soldiers and officers – are doing today is the most important task facing the country: ensuring its security and the long-term safety of our people. Equally important is that while addressing these urgent current challenges, we are not forgetting about improving and strengthening our strategic potential.

You have probably heard that a new, state-of-the-art, unlimited-range nuclear-powered missile has recently been tested. It has undeniable advantages, and we can be proud of the achievements of our scientists, specialists, engineers, and workers who made it possible.

The main advantage lies in the small nuclear propulsion unit. It is comparable in power to a nuclear submarine reactor, but it is a thousand – thousand! – times smaller. Yet the most important feature is that while a conventional nuclear reactor requires hours or even days and weeks to start, this reactor starts up in minutes or even seconds – a tremendous achievement.

We will be able to use it not only in defence but also in the national economy, including in solving the issue of energy supply in the Arctic and the lunar exploration programme. Even now, radiation-protected electronics developed for the Burevestnik missile are being used in space programmes. Thus this breakthrough strengthens both Russia’s defence capability and the overall scientific and industrial potential for the future.

Furthermore, you should also know that yesterday another test was successfully conducted: one more test of the Poseidon underwater unmanned vehicle, also equipped with a nuclear power unit. For the first time, we successfully launched it from a submarine by activating its booster engine, and then started the nuclear reactor, which propelled the apparatus for a certain duration.

This is another major success because in addition to all the advantages I have mentioned with respect to the Burevestnik, the reactor that powers Poseidon is also extremely small. While the nuclear unit that powers Burevestnik is a thousand times smaller than that of a submarine, this one is a hundred times smaller than a submarine’s nuclear reactor. But the power of the Poseidon is significantly higher than that of our most advanced Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. There is no analogue to Sarmat in the world. It is not on duty yet, but it will be soon.

However, the Poseidon is much more powerful than the Sarmat, and it also surpasses all existing systems in speed and operational depth and currently has no equivalent and there will be none any time soon. The are also no interception methods.

I believe all of this is important to you as well. You are fighting on the frontlines, risking your lives. Of course, you are wondering why you are doing it, to what extent will the country be prepared to take on what you are doing, risking your life and health to defend the Motherland, to what extent will it be capable to continue to move forward, strengthen its defence, and become stronger overall. These are the elements that are also associated with this work.

Thank you once again. If anyone has something to say, please, do. Otherwise, we will ask the cameras to leave us so that we can have a more informal talk.

Ivan Leksin: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,

Group commander, warrant officer Leksin requests permission to speak, Sir.

I have a question about the continuity of tradition of serving Russia running in families. I am actually named after my grandfather, Ivan Leksin, and my father was a military man too – he completed his service in Mongolia. So, I am carrying on that family tradition.

Vladimir Putin: Did he serve in the Airborne Forces?

Ivan Leksin: Yes, sir. The first year of his service was in Alytus, Lithuania, and then he was admitted to the Ryazan Airborne School. So, you see, I am following in their footsteps.

In our free time, we always try to teach the personnel about the heroic deeds of our grandfathers who defended our Motherland during the Great Patriotic War, including how they fought on Ukrainian territory.

There’s one memorable story about a reconnaissance officer from the Tambov Region. He was part of a reconnaissance group that was among the first to cross to the right bank of the Dnieper. A man named Sergei Mitrokhin was in that group. Thanks to his initiative and skill – he cleared a path to the German trench – they managed to take up the position and hold it. The battle raged for three hours until the main infantry forces arrived. For his actions, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union at just 20 years old.

The heroic deeds of our grandfathers were captured in multiple films and books. I would really like to see the same for our modern reconnaissance officers, special forces officers, and other services – specifically in the special military operation context. Because sooner or later, the younger generation will take our place.

Vladimir Putin: You are absolutely right. And thank you for bringing this up – it reminds me of a few more things I would like to say.

First off, you had not known the details of your grandfather’s service until recently, had you? Did that information come from the archives?

Ivan Leksin: Today, thanks to the Defence Minister…

Vladimir Putin: See, that’s my point. You did not know the exact details of how your grandfather fought, yet you are fighting in the very same spirit.

Ivan Leksin: I am doing my best.

Vladimir Putin: Exactly. And what does that tell us? It’s all in the genes, you see. You had not even known… I recently found out more about my own uncle who fought in that war. When I was in Primorye, the Governor got the documents for me from the local archive. I never knew he had served in Primorye. I read about how he and the others fought there. I even saw a letter my grandfather wrote to his son who was at the front. I had not known any of that before.

You see? It is inside us. It has always been there, and it is stay with us. But you are absolutely right that we must know our own history. This heroic history of our ancestors gives us strength – that is absolutely certain – and we need to speak about it more often.

You just mentioned films and television stories. I completely agree with you. I watched the footage of a fire exchange that you had under a bridge. If everything happened the way it was described – and I believe it did – you had to crawl almost 1,700 metres, and on top of that, you had to clear mines from the path ahead. Is that right?

Ivan Leksin: Yes, sir, that is correct, on a hill.

Vladimir Putin: Can you believe it!? Frankly, that sounds like a story for a blockbuster, a good film or a good story. We know that to be the case.

The icons you gave me, the ones that stopped the bullet and saved your life that is also something that can make a good story for a film or anything else for that matter. How many stories like this one have taken place? We are sitting here sharing a table, but as you are aware, our military are fighting out there, and there are many units like that, correct?

I hope they will hear us. All of us cannot gather at one table, but we know about their combat work, we know and we remember, and the country should know about it as well. I completely agree with you: we will definitely do so, and we will direct our people engaged in creative work to make these stories widely known.

But I will tell you this. You have probably also seen those same reporters, war correspondents who are out there under fire as well and are incurring casualties. These people will, without a doubt, do what you just said, and do so with sincerity, from the heart. That is how it is going to be.

Sergei Velkin: Junior Sergeant Velkin, deputy commander of a special forces group.

Mr President, our brigade is relatively young. It was formed in the summer of 2014. Since the beginning of the special military operation, our officers and enlisted men have shown courage and dedication in carrying out the assigned combat missions. And a result, you have seen with your own eyes the footage of a part of our mission being carried out.

During the Great Patriotic War and in the postwar years, many special reconnaissance units and detachments were awarded the Guards designation. Not all of us, but most of us have served in units bearing the honorary Guards designation.

We would be very happy and proud if you would consider awarding the honorary Guards designation to our 127^th Separate Reconnaissance Brigade.

Vladimir Putin: Agreed, that’s what we’ll do.

Sergei Velkin: Thank you.

Plenary session of the 10th Eastern Economic Forum

2025-09-08T15:32:38+04:00

Vladimir Putin took part in the 10th Eastern Economic Forum.

In 2025 the Forum is held under the motto “The Far East: Cooperation for Peace and Prosperity.”

Taking part in the plenary session were Prime Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Mongolia Gombojav Zandanshatar and Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Li Hongzhong. The day before, the President held bilateral meetings with each of the three officials.

* * *

Plenary session moderator Maria Rybakova: Mr Putin, honourable guests, good afternoon.

I also extend my greetings to the participants of the forum, the audience and the early risers in the western part of our country who have woken up to watch our plenary session.

Our guests of honour will deliver their statements soon. But first, if you don’t mind, Mr Putin, I would like to steal the spotlight for a moment. Just a couple of minutes to say a few words of explanation.

I should say straight away: I am not an economist. I am a news presenter with a legal education who lives in Moscow. In short, I am oriented towards the humanities. But I also go shopping quite often, and I am someone who pays attention to prices, which, frankly, sometimes surprise me. I really know very little about economics, and you know, sometimes when you are looking for answers, you go on a video platform – which, as you know, now runs a bit slowly in Russia – and there, economists tell you that everything is bad: inflation is rising and the budget has been stretched to the limit. Then you go on another platform, and there, other economists tell you that everything is fine, everything is great, that there are breakthroughs ahead, we will beat everyone, and so on.

Like any other Russian citizen, I have a question: Mr Putin, which of these economists should we trust?

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: You know, I have already answered questions of this kind. Don't take anyone at their word. The truth is, you should proceed from your own experience, rather than seeking the opinions of those who like to voice their views online. Instead, I suggest you consult the opinions of experts if you truly want to get to the essence of the issue that concerns you. I am not saying anything revolutionary here.

But even among specialists, views differ. The questions you have raised only appear simple on the surface. Take prices, for example. Rising prices are, essentially, inflation. The Central Bank is working to curb this inflation and bring it back to the well-known and necessary target of no more than 4–5 percent. But this requires keeping the key rate high, which raises concerns for those engaged in real production. Many people here in this hall will no doubt say: “This is unacceptable, it is impossible, the key rate must be sharply reduced.” But if that happens, prices will only rise further.

So the only thing I can say is this: I want to assure you that Russia’s financial authorities – the Government of the Russian Federation and the Central Bank – are acting professionally. We have always, and I want to stress this, always proceeded from the principle that a stable macroeconomic policy is the foundation for developing the Russian economy and, consequently, the social sphere. We have pursued this course for many years, at least a decade and a half, and it has consistently delivered positive results, creating the conditions for the country to move forward. I am confident this will be the case again.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you very much.

Perhaps my introduction was a little scattered, but the main point I wanted to make is this: today I would like us to talk about the economy not in abstract, highbrow terms, not about institutional economics, but about the economy that matters to ordinary people in Vladivostok, to a typical family. That is the kind of economy that concerns me, and people like me.

Let me briefly explain how we will proceed, what the format will be. I think everyone here is familiar with it. First, we will have the official part, with speeches by our distinguished guests, including Mr Putin. After that, we will move on to the Q&A session. I very much hope it will be a real discussion. I am not sure how it will unfold, because it’s not easy to argue with Mr Putin, but I will do my best.

I will now give the floor to the president of the country hosting this forum. Mr Putin, you have the floor.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Sonexay Siphandone, Mr Zandanshatar, Mr Li Hongzhong, ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me first to address the Russian part of the audience. I would ask you to extend a warm welcome to all our international guests. For my part, I wish to express my gratitude to our foreign colleagues for coming here, showing an interest in working with us, and devoting their valuable time to this forum.

Russia and Vladivostok once again are hosting participants and guests of the Eastern Economic Forum, with representatives from more than seventy countries around the world.

This year, the forum is being held for the tenth time. Let me remind you that the very idea of establishing it coincided with the launch of a new stage in the development of the Russian Far East. This major undertaking is aimed at creating broad opportunities for citizens, for young people, above all for businesses, to fully unlock the resource, industrial and logistical potential of this strategically important region of Russia, and to improve the quality of life for its residents.

Today’s anniversary forum is not only an opportunity to take stock of the joint efforts of government bodies, entrepreneurs and public organisations, but also to outline the next steps – our long-term plans for the Far East. These plans concern strengthening its role both in Russia’s national economy and in international relations, above all in the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region.

As you know, the development of the Far East and Siberia has been designated as Russia’s national priority for the entire 21st century. This was announced in the Address to the Federal Assembly at the end of 2013.

Subsequently, the legal framework was formed and updated, and a whole range of instruments to support business was introduced, including advanced special economic zones, the Free Port of Vladivostok regime, preferential arrangements for the Kuril Islands, and the establishment of a special administrative district on Russky Island.

Ambitious plans have been rolled out to strengthen transport, energy and utilities infrastructure. Decisions have been made to support housing construction, renovation, and the development of social facilities: schools, kindergartens, clinics and hospitals, and sports complexes.

All these measures are united within the large-scale State Programme for the Development of the Far East. It sets ambitious targets for accelerated economic and technological growth and for improving the wellbeing of the population across the Far Eastern regions of the Russian Federation.

These efforts are delivering results. In recent years, the Far East has taken a leading position across many key indicators – first and foremost economic ones – outpacing Russia’s overall growth rates.

Over the past 10 years, the gross regional product of the Far East has increased more than 2.5 times, from 4 trillion rubles to 11 trillion.

During this time, 20 trillion rubles were invested in the fixed capital of Far Eastern companies and enterprises. A quarter of this amount was channelled into projects with state support in such sectors as mining, oil and gas chemistry, construction and others.

Let me name the leading regions in terms of fixed capital investment over these 10 years: Yakutia, with 4.5 trillion rubles, Amur Region, with 4 trillion rubles, and Sakhalin Region, with 2.6 trillion rubles. Together, these three account for 55 percent of all investment in the Far Eastern Federal District.

The investment dynamics in the Far Eastern regions are such that, in real terms, their volume last year was double that of 10 years ago. For comparison, across Russia as a whole the figure was 1.5 times higher. That, too, is a good result. But still, the Far East has done better.

Per capita, investment in the Far East today is twice as high as the national average.

What does this mean? It means that not only is a modern industrial base being formed, but in fact a new industrial map of the region is emerging. Thousands of new growth points have already appeared, including world-class enterprises such as the Baimsky mining and processing plant in Chukotka, the Udokan Copper project in the Trans-Baikal Territory, the gas processing plant and petrochemical complex in the Amur Region, the Nakhodka mineral fertiliser plant, the Zvezda shipbuilding complex in Primorye, the hydrometallurgical plant in the Khabarovsk Territory, and many others.

The growth of business and entrepreneurial activity, along with the expansion of economic opportunities in the Far East, forms the foundation for the region’s future development. It is important to maintain steady progress in its traditional sectors, in areas that are already on an upward trajectory, to develop infrastructure and logistics links, to ensure reliable supplies of affordable and clean energy, and, of course, resources.

I should also note that the Far East’s resource base and mineral extraction are expanding. Over the past decade, coal and gold production in the region has grown almost 1.7 times. This has been made possible in part by the declarative principle of subsoil licensing, which has enabled greater private capital involvement in geological exploration, significantly increasing the number of newly discovered deposits, including major ones such as the Lugokan gold and copper deposit in the Trans-Baikal Territory and the Roman gold and silver deposit in Yakutia.

I will separately touch on the issue of rare earth metals, which are used in high-tech industries, instrument-making, nuclear technology, electronics and other spheres.

These resources are often accumulated in dumps during the development of deposits, including here in the Far East. There is a system for registering these resources. They can be extracted and effectively used with the development of new technologies. I spoke about the launch of such programmes at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

At the same time, we should regularly review these valuable components throughout the production chain, including at the stage of their reprocessing and export in the form of concentrates. In addition, we must introduce advanced technologies for enriching and processing rare and rare earth metal ores. We must also encourage demand for them at new industrial facilities in Russia.

Some months ago, in February, we agreed to approve a long-term plan for the development of the rare earth metals industry. I would like the Government of the Russian Federation to do this no later than November this year.

Next, a meeting on the development of the energy complex of the Far East was held on the eve of this plenary session. Many of you have likely taken notice of it. It is clear that the demand for electricity in the region will increase with the development of the economy and the social sphere. Consequently, we must plan the construction of energy facilities so that they meet the growing demands of businesses, cities and villages, and the people. The focus is on the expansion of gas and modern coal generation, as well as using the huge potential of hydropower generation.

The hydroelectric power plants on rivers in the Far East are a low-impact electricity source, and new ones must be built. Their construction implies modern engineering and technological solutions, and our leading company in this field, RusHydro, has the necessary experience and groundwork. However, it is obvious that the development of hydropower generation calls for major investments.

Relevant instructions have been issued. I hope that the Government and our colleagues in the regions will continue to give special attention to the development of small and large hydroelectric power plants. I would like to emphasise that we are not only talking about the economic aspect. Responsible water use, maintenance of perennial runoff, and flood prevention are integral parts of the development of hydropower generation that have a direct impact on the environment, agriculture and the safety of cities and towns.

Rivers in the Far East are also natural transport arteries connecting territories and ensuring deliveries to cities and towns within the framework of the northern supply.

In this context, a separate issue is logistics. In recent years, the load on the transport system of the Far East has grown significantly. The region’s ties with foreign countries are being strengthened. All of this requires the upgrading of road and rail arteries, the expansion of seaports and the creation of modern transport hubs with automated warehouses and digital cargo processing.

We will continue modernising the Eastern railway network – the BAM and the Trans-Siberian Railway. By 2032, their carrying capacity should be one and a half times higher than at the beginning of this year.

It will also be necessary to further expand the railway links to the seaports of the Far East, which are developing dynamically, primarily through private investment. Over the past 10 years, port capacity in the region has effectively doubled. Today, it stands at almost 380 million tonnes of cargo per year.

According to the current federal project, the Far Eastern ports’ capacity should increase by a further 115 million tonnes of cargo per year by 2030.

In the Far East, transport bridges to China have already been built: the Nizhne-Leninskoye-Tongjiang and Blagoveshchensk-Heihe bridges. Plans also include the construction of new bridges, including one to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea across the Tumannaya River, which is scheduled to open next year. It is essential to actively develop transport and logistics hubs in the vicinity of these bridges to make full use of their capacity. In addition, border crossings are being modernised. This task has also been set, as it is of considerable importance: a single transport artery is not enough, and appropriate administrative logistics are required.

I would also add that airports in every region of the Far East are being upgraded. They now handle more than 14 million passengers a year, including tourists, who are increasingly visiting these remarkable and beautiful places.

In this context, I would like to note the initiative of VEB.RF. Master plans have been prepared for the development of twelve new all-season resorts in Primorye, Sakhalin and Kamchatka. This will allow the number of tourists visiting these regions to almost double over the next ten years.

I would also highlight such landmark developments as the restoration of flights between Vladivostok and Pyongyang following the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the launch of direct air services between the capitals of Russia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The flight on this route took place at the end of July. A month earlier, direct train services between Moscow and Pyongyang were resumed. I am confident that these measures will contribute to the further rapprochement of our countries and the establishment of stronger ties.

Of course, a particularly significant topic for the Far East, for our entire country, and for the whole Eurasian continent is the development of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor. It runs from St Petersburg through Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, and the Northern Sea Route, all the way to Vladivostok.

We see that interest in this route is growing, both from Russian companies operating in the Arctic and from foreign carriers. And this is not just about individual, one-off shipments, but about forming a stable cargo base.

We will develop the Trans-Arctic Corridor.

We often speak about the Northern Sea Route. But if you have noticed, I specifically said – and continue to say – Trans-Arctic Corridor, because we have concluded that we need to operate on a larger scale, and that this artery must function as part of a complex system with all the territories adjoining the Northern Sea Route and their capacities.

So, this is a comprehensive system that should integrate maritime, rail and road transport. It will allow us to use the potential of our largest rivers, such as the Ob, Yenisei, and Lena. Everything must work as a single, unified system.

Our task is not only to establish reliable and safe sea routes in the Arctic and enable year-round operation of the Trans-Arctic Corridor. There is also work, as they say, onshore: developing communications and navigation, ship servicing systems, and emergency and rescue infrastructure. And, of course, this includes modernising seaports in the Arctic and the Far East.

Incidentally, just yesterday, the multimodal hub Artyom was opened here, in the Primorye Territory. It handles containers arriving both from abroad and from Russian regions, and it is expected to improve the efficiency of northern supply deliveries.

It is very important that similar modern transport and logistics centres develop in our country, that there are more and more of them, and that cargo delivery and handling become faster and more efficient. And I would like to emphasise that it is precisely at such points, in logistics hubs, that advanced technologies, including unmanned systems, should be applied.

Next, the Trans-Arctic Corridor must primarily operate in the interests of the domestic economy and our regions of the Far East, Siberia, and the Arctic, taking into account cooperation between them and opening new opportunities for business. Here, I would like to underline two potentially significant directions for development.

First, the creation of modern shipbuilding centres. They should be capable of producing the full range of vessels needed for the route, from tugs and supply ships to bulk carriers and ice-class gas carriers, as well as ultra-powerful icebreakers.

Second, to increase the efficiency and resilience of the Trans-Arctic Corridor, we need to provide direct access for cargo from Siberia and the Urals to Arctic maritime routes.

I ask my colleagues in the Government and the Russian Maritime Board to assess the feasibility of these proposals and provide their recommendations.

Back in the day, mechanisms that were advanced and innovative for our country, such as priority development areas (PDAs), gave a strong boost to economic growth and private initiative in the Far East.

As you may recall, the law on PDAs was adopted in late 2014, and the mechanism was launched in 2015. The goal was to create truly globally competitive environment for doing business in the Russian Far East. Therefore, we developed PDA arrangements based on the best business and investment climate practices, including from the Asia-Pacific region.

What benefits does this mechanism provide today? Our colleagues are well aware of them in general, but I would like to go over them for our guests. These are, first of all, low insurance premium rates (7.6 percent for 10 years). The federal revenue tax will be zero for five years. The regional revenue tax will amount to anywhere from zero to five percent in the first five years, and ten percent in the next five years. The subsidised tax rate on mineral extraction is provided. In addition, the PDAs provide for a free customs zone, as well as reimbursement of a portion of the expenses involved in building infrastructure and issuing low-interest loans to businesses.

The reason I am dwelling on the PDA terms in such great detail is because they are unique for business, and not only in our country, but in many other countries around the world as well, for our colleagues and friends from other countries.

PDAs have proven their effectiveness. They have helped launch numerous investment projects, systematically support entrepreneurs and companies at the most important stage during construction, setting up the production cycle, and reaching design capacity. In the Far East, 18 PDAs have been created employing over 300 residents, who have invested almost four trillion rubles and created 95,000 new jobs. The Government has made several decisions to expand the boundaries of specific PDAs to accommodate new projects.

Based on existing successful experience, I propose taking a radical step and, as the saying goes, seamlessly, while keeping the terms and conditions for the existing investors unchanged, launch a single preferential regime for business throughout, I emphasise, throughout the entire Russian Far East and the Arctic. This work must begin on January 1, 2027.

The task is to simplify the use of support measures for entrepreneurs, companies and their new projects. In other words, investors should have access to incentives wherever they take their money, in every Far Eastern or Arctic region, city and town.

I would like to point out that the launch of the single preferential regime will preserve all the terms extended to investors in priority development areas. They do not have to worry that anything will be changed spontaneously. This also concerns the residents of international priority development areas. This instrument stipulates even longer-term profit tax privileges and the so-called grandfather clause – not everyone in the hall knows what it is, so I will explain this term. This clause precludes any changes in the terms of operation for up to 15 years and stipulates an individual approach and support for each investor, including foreign companies.

The legal framework is ready, and international priority development areas will start operating in the Transbaikal Territory, the Amur Region, the Jewish Autonomous Region, and the Khabarovsk and Primorye territories on January 1, 2026. We invite all interested partners to take advantage of this opportunity.

Regarding the single preferential regime for the Far East, I would like to say this: the list of incentives, their precise parameters, deadlines and industry focus will be determined by the Government together with our colleagues in the Far Eastern entities of the federation. But there are some fundamental issues I would like to point out.

Using the results achieved in the mining and processing industries and solid infrastructure, we must start a new development stage in the Far East, shaping an economy of the future, radically improving living conditions in cities and towns, training in-demand professionals and launching high-tech projects. This is the essence of the new stage. We must turn the entire territory of the Far East into a hub for high-tech projects. It is a vast territory with a sparse population and large areas where people can be employed. We must use modern methods for the development of this territory.

National projects to ensure the country’s technological leadership have already been launched. On the basis of each of these, I instruct the Government to prepare and approve an appropriate development programme for the Far East and the Arctic by the end of the year.

For a technological breakthrough, a genuinely bold approach to regulation and the legal framework for business operations is required. These must give the green light to innovation, stimulate the development of cutting-edge solutions, and facilitate their implementation in pilot and subsequently serial production, as well as in the social sphere and everyday life.

For instance, an experimental legal regime is already in effect on Sakhalin. It allows for the accelerated testing of unmanned technologies. I instruct the Government to create conditions for their widespread application on agricultural lands, in environmental protection and natural resource management, as well as at industrial and logistics sites. Why should unmanned technology not be developed in such areas? There are none of the risks that might arise in densely populated regions of the country. Moreover, life itself demands the use of such technologies. Take, for example, forest fires that break out hundreds of kilometres away from the centres responsible for responding to them. Unmanned technology is perfectly suited for use in these vast areas.

There are other opportunities for applying modern technologies across these vast territories. This is precisely where they should be deployed. However, this requires a corresponding workforce. What must be done to ensure such a workforce? Conditions must be created so that people can live here, so that they want to live here. Social infrastructure must be developed, cultural facilities must be enhanced, and so on. Otherwise, there will be no workforce, and consequently, there will be no people capable of advancing these technologies. This is a comprehensive task.

It is evident that such solutions will be in demand not only on Sakhalin but also in other regions of the Far East, including the Amur Region, the Trans-Baikal Territory, Chukotka, and so on.

In this regard, I consider it possible to extend the experimental legal regime for unmanned systems to all Far Eastern regions and expand it primarily to include such areas as the use of digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and data exchange.

In June, at the St Petersburg Economic Forum, I spoke about the importance of leveraging the advantages of electronic marketplaces. Within the framework of the experimental legal regime, I propose utilising the infrastructure of domestic information platforms for state and municipal procurement in the field of education.

There is more to it. The Russian Far East must become an advanced digital development region, especially in data circulation. Of course, this circulation should take into account matters of confidentiality and security. We talk about this all the time. We will definitely revisit this topic at the artificial intelligence forum, which will take place closer to the year end. I look forward to the Government preparing corresponding proposals.

Next up, to develop and master technologies and to establish modern production facilities, at least 100 industrial, business and technology parks with the proper areas and utilities will have become operational in Russia by 2030. At least ten such parks will need to be created in the Russian Far East and the Arctic regions. I am confident that their state-of-the-art infrastructure and capabilities will be popular with the start-up companies that are implementing promising projects and, among other things, planning to manufacture products that are designed to replace foreign analogues, including construction materials, and medical and transport equipment, to name a few.

In order to promote the development of domestic production facilities, conditions must be met for a wider use of the so-called offset contracts, when investments in new factories, workshops, or enterprises are guaranteed by state orders. It is likewise important to expand the practice of interregional offset contracts, under which production facilities open in one constituent entity of the Federation, and products manufactured under guaranteed orders are shipped to more than one region.

Financing innovative ideas and technological projects is a separate issue. Private investors and venture investment have a greater role to play under these arrangements than the state. The Voskhod Fund, which has supported about 40 companies in robotics, medicine, and space technologies, is a compelling example to back up this point.

I am asking our colleagues from the Government to carefully review the experience of this Fund and to help scale up its activities to include our technological leadership projects. Please focus on this.

In general, I believe a transparent, modern, and effective financial ecosystem must be created in the Far East. The Eastern Exchange, which is, for all intents and purposes, a Far Eastern stock exchange, is operational. I suggest working out plans for further expanding it, including financial channels, regulatory framework, and incentives for placing corporate shares.

Colleagues, developing the Far East and the Arctic, and building the economy of the future should improve the well-being of the people, increase their incomes, and lead to structural changes in employment in favour of high-skilled and well-paying jobs. This is the underlying logic and the core meaning of the strategy that we are implementing in these regions and throughout the country. To reiterate, the Russian economy must become an economy of high wages. This is not an empty phrase, not some kind of populist rhetoric. There is economic sense to it.

Over the past ten years, the average salary in the Far East has increased by 2.5 times. As of the end of last year, it exceeded 100,000 rubles per month in nominal value. The unemployment rate in the region went down from 7 percent to 2.4 percent. The poverty rate is down across Far Eastern constituent entities of the Federation. Indeed, in most of them it is still higher than the national average, and there is room for improvement. However, overall, I emphasise, the dynamics are good and positive. On average, the poverty level in Russia decreased from 11.3 percent to 7.2 percent from 2014 to 2024. Among the Far Eastern regions, poverty is below the national average in some regions, namely, 5.3 percent on Sakhalin, 5.9 percent in the Magadan Region, and 4.4 percent in Chukotka.

We remember how, amid economic headwinds and challenges in the social sphere in the late 1990s, people began to leave the Far East. It was a truly threatening trend, and reversing it was a challenge. But we are getting there. Gradually, we are getting there.

I will give you some telling figures. Since 2014, the migration outflow in the Far East amounted to 211,000 people over five years, but it decreased to 109,000 people in the next five years, which is also a lot. But it was down almost by half. Moreover, 2024 saw a migration influx, albeit a small one at 24,000 people. Not many, indeed, but the very fact of trend reversing was a major achievement.

Particularly important is the fact that young people from all over the country headed to the Far East. Since 2015, an influx of young people aged 20 to 24 has been noted for nine years in a row. Last year alone, it more than doubled compared to the year before that.

This means that you can go there to get an interesting profession, find a well-paying job, settle down, solve housing issues, start a family, and raise children. The future of our country is being created in the Far East. Young people sense it, see it, and react accordingly.

We will continue to improve the system of general and higher education in the region, encouraging it to adjust to the personnel demands of enterprises and organisations, and to take into account potential changes in the employment market due to the development of new forward-looking economic sectors.

We have agreed to open university campuses in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Yakutsk, Khabarovsk, Blagoveshchensk, Ulan-Ude and Chita, to build the second phase of the Far Eastern Federal University campus and to establish world-class campuses in the Arctic, namely Murmansk and Arkhangelsk. In other words, we will create all the necessary conditions for receiving a quality modern education.

Of course, it is necessary to support not only those who plan to move to the region but also those who were born and are living and working here, making the Far East and consequently, the whole of Russia stronger and better.

We must ensure a sustainable improvement in the standards of living for people and families in the Far East. This is a crucial aspect and the basis for creating an economy of the future.

Regarding housing affordability, urban development, the environment and the social sphere, the standards in the Far Eastern regions must rise above the country’s average within a decade.

As you know, master plans for 22 Far Eastern cities and agglomerations have been prepared with this aim in view. They include the economic development of residential areas and are designed to create a modern and truly comfortable living environment, with renovated housing and utilities, developed public spaces, parks, boulevards, children’s playgrounds and sports grounds, and a modernised social sphere.

These master plans are being implemented. To date, over 160 facilities have been built in accordance with them, including an embankment and a children’s technology park in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, a stadium in Ulan-Ude, and a roofed skating rink in Nakhodka. A shipyard has been modernised, an embankment has been built and a park has been laid out in Yakutsk. The construction of the Kamchatka Region Hospital has been completed.

It is clear that the successful implementation of these master plans depends on interaction between local authorities, including proper regard for governance elements in the urban agglomerations that comprise several municipal areas.

I would like to ask the Government, working jointly with local colleagues, to test the mechanisms of such interaction in the Vladivostok City Agglomeration, with the results of this experience formalised by 2030.

By the end of this decade, within the framework of the Far Eastern and Arctic master plans, more than 600 facilities are to be put into service. In their development, it is important to apply advanced solutions, both in design and in construction.

Next, for the financing of the master plans, we have agreed to create special sections in the national projects specifically dedicated to the Far East and the Arctic, and to allocate 5 percent of the expenditures of relevant state programmes in the social sphere, infrastructure and other areas to master plan initiatives.

I ask the Ministry of Finance to note that these decisions have been made. Yes, there is work to be done, and all of these programmes need to be carefully reviewed. But I ask that 5 percent be allocated here unconditionally, to address the tasks facing the region.

In addition, at the last Forum, I instructed that a separate limit of treasury infrastructure loans be allocated for the master plans of Far Eastern and Arctic cities. By 2030, 100 billion rubles will be directed to these purposes, primarily for the construction and upgrading of infrastructure.

Projects from the regions are already being selected locally and reviewed by the Government. I want to emphasise that resources for them are allocated to the Far Eastern regions in addition to the existing instruments of the so-called infrastructure menu. These include funds from the National Wealth Fund, the issuance of infrastructure bonds, and financing under the Modernisation of Utilities Infrastructure and Housing federal projects. All of this is an important contribution to the development of housing construction in the Far East and to improving housing availability for Far Eastern families.

If in 2015 the region completed the construction of 2.9 million square metres of housing, last year the figure stood at 4.7 million. The Far Eastern Quarter mechanism, with incentives for developers, played a role here. And, of course, the Far Eastern and Arctic mortgage programme with a low rate of 2 percent – originally covering young families, families with children, and participants in the Far Eastern and Arctic Hectare programmes – also contributed.

More than 165,000 loans have already been issued under this mortgage programme. We have extended it until 2030, and expanded it to include participants in the special military operation, employees of defence industry enterprises, doctors, and education workers. Specific age limits have been applied to these categories.

I would like to make an important clarification. The opportunity to receive a mortgage at a 2 percent rate should be available not only to teachers, but, I emphasise, to all employees of state and municipal educational institutions in the Far East and the Arctic. I ask the Government to make the necessary amendments to the regulatory framework. These are funds that, even under current conditions, are quite manageable, and I ask that this be done.

I also propose using the Far Eastern and Arctic mortgage programme for the secondary housing market as well, not just primary market, but specifically in those urban areas without blocks of flats, where developers do not offer anything. Of course, the year of the construction and the condition of the buildings will need to be assessed before a mortgage loan is issued. I am asking our colleagues to have a careful look into that.

We have discussed this in relation to other regions. Subsidised arrangements must definitely be allowed on the secondary market. Well, what if no new housing is built there? Please work it through. This decision must be made.

The housing issue is the key to improving the demographic situation. Families in the Far East are paid one million rubles for the third baby, rather than 450,000 rubles as in the rest of the country, which makes perfect sense. All of that together produces the result that I just talked about. Young people are coming here.

Initially, this support mechanism was introduced in the Primorye Territory, and then in seven more regions. Twenty-five percent more third and subsequent babies are born into Far Eastern families than the national average. It is also a telling indicator. Since this payment of one million rubles is used to pay off mortgage loans, I think the right thing to do is to make the Far Eastern and Arctic mortgage programme available to all families in the region with three or more children. To reiterate, to all large families, regardless of the age of the parents. We had a cap of 35 years. But now women give birth at 35, 40, and even older. God bless them. The more babies we have, the better.

Of course, Far Eastern families, families with children should be provided with social facilities such as outpatient clinics, kindergartens, schools, and hospitals.

Building such facilities at the expense of businesses, or more precisely, strategic partners that carry out major investment projects and conduct large-scale production operations in a particular population centre is a popular approach in remote Far Eastern urban and rural areas.

As a reminder, last year we agreed to create such a convenient mechanism, so that businesses could use their own funds to build social facilities when they are building their production facilities. They would build social facilities concurrently and then transfer them to regional or municipal authorities and have their expenses reimbursed. How will the reimbursement work? By way of future tax deductions when an enterprise becomes operational.

I would like the Government and the VEB.RF corporation – Mr Shuvalov, please note that – launch this tool widely and use budget resources that are set aside to cover investment tax deductions. Without a doubt, public-private partnerships and concessions should be used widely as well.

In this regard, I count on VEB’s energetic participation in further improving concession and PPP mechanisms. I am talking about creating a national standard and financing model in this area, which should ensure transparency and a common understanding of the terms of public/private partnership in socially important projects. This is a simple mechanism, and there is nothing important here. The budget will not be overly burdened by it. It is a quite feasible project.

Colleagues,

The Russian Far East and the Asia-Pacific region as a whole is an area of dynamic change and burgeoning growth. We should maintain high rates of positive change, improve the structure of the domestic economy, increase the technological efficiency of all spheres of life, and more effectively use the resource, production, logistics, and research potential that the Far Eastern regions and the country as a whole possess.

To be able to do this, we need to widely implement bold innovative solutions. All of that must be reflected in the regulatory framework and business environment, as we continue addressing issues that define the quality of life of our citizens. All of that should be done in a timely manner.

Such approaches have proven themselves in the Far East and the Arctic. We will continue developing them and adjusting them to the needs of people and the needs of businesses and regions. We will use them to ensure Russia’s national interests.

Of course, the success of this work largely relies on a systematic and comprehensive approach, the ability to look forward, to see prospects, to set big goals, and to set the plans to achieve them. Based on the outcomes of this forum, I am asking the Government to approve a long-term Strategy for the Development of the Far Eastern Federal District to 2036. Please do that within the next 12 months.

Much is being done in the Far East and the Arctic, and a lot more will need to be accomplished. Importantly, and I want our foreign friends to hear me, we are open to everyone who is willing to take part in this work.

Thank you for your attention. Thank you.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you very much, Mr Putin.

I have a quick question to follow up on that. The Far East will be just fine near-term and long-term as well. We can breathe a sigh of relief.

Traditionally, we have two main economic forums in Russia: the Far Eastern Forum, which has always been oriented towards Asia and the Pacific region, and the St Petersburg Forum, which, I think, has always served as a platform, or a small window to Europe.

If you look at our main symbol – the double-headed eagle – it also looks to the West and to the East. You had quite a fulfilling trip to China for the SCO summit. One can get an impression that the eagle is now looking to the East with its both heads.

A group photo of you, Xi Jinping, and Narendra Modi has made it to tabloids around the world. It was dubbed a new alliance of the elephant, the dragon and the bear. My question is: what place does the bear have in this alliance? What is it in this group?

Vladimir Putin: A bear is a bear.

Maria Rybakova: But bear is a fairly tough animal, Mr Putin.

Vladimir Putin: You just said that our eagle is looking to the East and to West. But there is also South.

Maria Rybakova: Alright, let us say the eagle is looking southeast.

Vladimir Putin: I have discussed this issue with my colleagues many times. What I was saying is that our interaction, our expanded interaction and joint work with our friends from the Asia-Pacific region and the Global South has nothing to do with the current political developments.

Look, President Xi Jinping and I took up this major effort 20 years ago. It has nothing to do with the current circumstances, but is related to our respective national interests. Our economies are complementary, we are neighbours, and we share many common interests, common approaches, and common values. To be sure, traditional values.

We, in Russia, knew the inner workings of the global economy. What are they? The whole world knows well that it is growing at a fast pace featuring new areas of focus and growth points. Naturally, we are guided by this, all the more so as we enjoy excellent neighbourly relations with many countries, including the People’s Republic of China, India, and Indonesia. Please note the pace of growth in these countries: Indonesia has almost 300 million people. That is quite a market.

There are small, but rapidly growing countries, such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, with which we have had special relations for decades. Why would we not put all of that to good use? It is a natural thing to do. This is not a pivot anywhere. It is simply an answer to objective processes occurring around the world and in the global economy.

We have never refused to cooperate with those who wish to work with us, including in other countries across Asia. At the moment, I simply do not want to put anyone in a difficult or awkward position. Companies from certain countries that face some problems due to the current political circumstances have not left our market; they are still there, they continue to operate and even seek to expand cooperation.

For political reasons, many European companies have exited – yes, at a loss to themselves. We are aware of this and remain in contact; many are eager to return as soon as political restrictions are lifted. We do not turn our backs on anyone. Contrary to suggestions that we are “looking elsewhere,” we are not… Our foreign and economic policies remain stable and predictable.

In my view, this represents a clear competitive advantage, as stability is crucial for business. We have not turned away anyone or forced anyone out. Those who wish to return are always welcome, but based on the conditions that are developing at the moment.

Regarding the dragon and the elephant dancing together – this analogy was originally made by President Xi Jinping, not me – later the bear was added. The bear, of course, symbolises Russia. But we are staying in the Far East, and here we also have the world’s largest tiger – the Ussuri tiger, which is a Russian tiger.

Maria Rybakova: Continuing with the theme of returns:

Overall, it seems to me that there is a global trend towards protectionism. In other words, it appears that many countries prefer focusing inward, supporting domestic business rather than attracting external competitors. I want to emphasise that this is just my observation and my opinion – I am not an economist and would like to hear your opinion.

What do you think: is this policy, which seems to be actively pursued in some countries, beneficial or not?

Vladimir Putin: This approach is harmful, both to those who adopt it and to the global economy and international trade. It fosters separatism, both regional and national. Nothing positive comes from pursuing such a policy, as today’s world is highly interconnected and driven by possibilities and technological development. Isolating oneself within a purely national framework is difficult and counterproductive, as it inevitably undermines competitiveness.

We proceed from the fact that Russia is open to cooperation with all countries of the world, and above all with those who are willing to work with us, with our friends. At the same time, we are not shutting ourselves off from anyone. I believe the vast majority of those who are present here, if not everyone, will agree with me: such openness is beneficial to everyone who adheres to this point of view and this policy.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: As they say in such cases – thank you for your support.

Maria Rybakova: Exactly. Thank you for your support.

Next, I would like to turn it over to the Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Mr Sonexay Siphandone, please come up to the podium. You have the floor.

Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Sonexay Siphandone (retranslated): Your Excellency Mr Putin, President of the Russian Federation.

Ladies and gentlemen.

It is a genuine joy and honour for me to participate in this forum. I was very happy to receive an invitation from President Putin and to come to Vladivostok. This is my first time in this city.

On behalf of the Government and the people of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to His Excellency President Putin and the Government of the Russian Federation for the warm welcome extended to me and our delegation.

I would also like to thank you for the excellent organisation of the 10^th Eastern Economic Forum. I am absolutely sure that this forum is an important driving force in promoting cooperation in the sphere of economy, social development, and cultural interaction. This forum contributes to improving the quality of life in the Russian Far East and in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole.

Our meeting today clearly demonstrates Russia’s leading role as it strives to promote international cooperation within bilateral and multilateral formats. This also applies to political and economic interaction, as well as to promoting innovative technologies and designs.

Today, we have found ourselves in an extremely difficult situation, where changes in the international arena are absolutely unpredictable due to the geopolitical situation, with existing problems, primarily caused by protectionist measures that some countries are introducing in an attempt to compete and even hinder the growth, accelerated growth of other countries.

This is aggravated by a number of other problems, including natural disasters, climate change, exceedingly rapid development of modern technologies, and innovative technological solutions, especially the introduction of artificial intelligence.

We are facing the problem of instability on the energy and raw materials markets. Food also poses certain problems. We are witnessing crises in this area as well.

These problems must be solved in order to ensure global peace, prosperity and stability now and in the future. In order to solve all these problems, we must cooperate. We must use the existing consultative, multilateral and bilateral mechanisms that are based on the principles of mutual respect and compliance with international law. This is an important mechanism that often requires certain reforms in order to properly reflect the current situation and to meet its challenges.

The theme of this year’s forum is “cooperation for peace and prosperity.” This choice is highly relevant in today’s circumstances, because without peace, prosperity cannot be achieved. Conversely, without prosperity, peace cannot be truly sustainable or lasting. That is why we must work together to ensure that the concepts of prosperity and peace go hand in hand.

Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen,

The Far East brings together a number of countries with enormous potential. We can see that the Russian Federation plays a key role as a driving force for strengthening cooperation in this region, both in bilateral and multilateral formats.

Above all, associations such as BRICS, the Asia-Europe cooperation framework, the SCO, and others contribute significantly to advancing regional economic cooperation. These formats are based on the principles of mutual respect and the independence of their members.

Laos also seeks to promote cooperation within the framework of open and inclusive mechanisms. We believe that only through such cooperation can we find effective solutions to modern challenges. It is essential to make use of international mechanisms that continue to remain relevant in addressing these problems.

For the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, it is essential to create a more favourable economic environment for attracting investment and expanding trade.

Among other measures, we are working to establish and develop special economic zones and industrial parks across the country. We have also eliminated unnecessary bureaucratic barriers in order to make the process of attracting direct foreign investment as comfortable and transparent as possible.

We have also updated the investment law, introducing a number of provisions that make investing in our country more attractive to both domestic and international partners.

Our focus is on the most promising sectors: agriculture, renewable energy, geological exploration, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, education, technology, services, tourism, transport, infrastructure projects, and logistics.

I would also like to stress that Laos is the only ASEAN member state without access to the sea. This makes it especially important for us to maximise the advantages of our strategic geographical position. Our goal is to ensure connectivity through land transport routes and thereby contribute to the development of logistics across the region as a whole.

Our government makes considerable investment in infrastructure and the construction of high-speed railroads across the entire country. We also continue to extend transport and logistics connectivity with friendly countries to become a regional hub for investment and trade. Tourism obviously plays a major role in that respect.

It is thanks to such policy and measures that the Lao People’s Democratic Republic has earned trust and recognition at regional and international platforms. I would like to note that Laos held the 2024 ASEAN presidency during which we identified nine priority tracks.

All of them concerned the promotion of greater connectivity and sustainability of the region built around ASEAN’s three major principles. We had a very fruitful ASEAN presidency, and we remain loyal to the declared principles, namely, the principle of ASEAN’s central role.

Today we can safely say that ASEAN is a community which has proved its commitment to peace and regional cooperation, acting invariably in the spirit of mutual assistance, in accordance with the path ASEAN has chosen.

Therefore, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic believes that enhancing ASEAN requires the promotion of economic cooperation and connectivity in the overall region. We will continue to augment regional integration and connectivity.

Your Excellency,

ladies and gentlemen,

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is open for cooperation with all countries to achieve the goals of promoting peace, stability, prosperity and wellbeing in the region and worldwide.

It is in this spirit that I would like to invite you all to visit Laos so as to learn about our rich culture and beautiful nature as well as to see your potential in fostering cooperation and making investment in our country.

Also, on behalf of the Government and the people of Laos, I wish every success to the 10^th Eastern Economic Forum here in Vladivostok. I hope it will remain a venue for free exchange of opinions, for cooperation and building a future where all countries have equal opportunities.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to President Putin, and thank and congratulate him on the successful holding of the forum.

Your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, I wish you all good health and successful performance of all your duties.

Thank you for your attention.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you very much for your kind words. Thank you for the invitation, I will gladly accept it as I have never been to Laos.

In addition to what you have told us now, I would like to separately discuss an amazing thing. You are now the biggest exporter of electrical power. You are even nicknamed as a Southeast Asia battery.

How did you manage to increase it in such amounts so fast? Respectively, we may also learn on your example, the more so as Vladimir Putin said we must also build hydroelectric power stations and increase the fuel and energy complex in every possible way.

I beg your pardon, we have technical issues with translation.

Mr Putin, I will have to ask you then. Yesterday, you had a major meeting, where you discussed the fuel and energy complex in the Far East, and the importance of investing in expanding it.

My main question is where will the money come from? We are talking enormous amounts of funds, the volumes are large, and the goals you have set are, let us say, quite serious.

Vladimir Putin: Money is always important, but not the main thing. The main thing is to properly organise work, to identify priorities, and to establish interaction between various entities that have been assigned a common task.

This common task is for the regional authorities to, on the one hand, come to terms with investors and, on the other hand, investors must guarantee – some of our colleagues present here, for sure, are planning to do something – and these investors must guarantee the consumption of this energy, meaning that those who will produce it must be sure that as they invest money in creating energy capacities and grid facilities, their efforts will not be in vain, and things will not hang up after they spend their money.

The first thing that needs to be done is to organise joint work, and then to look for the latest technologies and investors who are ready to use these technologies in conjunction with the oversight organisations in charge of monitoring the fragile ecosystem of the Arctic and the Far East. This is the common task.

In that case, money will not be a problem, because the invested funds will pay back quickly. Ultimately, this will benefit the budget as well, since it will receive more tax revenue from the effective and competently organised work at new enterprises.

Maria Rybakova: What about supporting the industries? I mean the coal industry which is going through difficult times. You mentioned gas yesterday and said that we may face gas shortages in the Far East and volumes must be increased. How do you see solutions to these problems in these particular industries and who should we start with?

Vladimir Putin: You mentioned coal miners, who, like you said, are going through difficult times. Times are difficult in the sense that our coal mining industry is large, and the situation on international markets has changed, but we must largely focus on the domestic needs and the domestic market. This is my first point.

Second, to reiterate, we possess large amounts of coal in the Far East that will last 900 years. In order for us to use them effectively, we need the latest technologies. This is what we need to focus on in the first place.

If the domestic market consumes the volumes we need, we will be able to use it effectively, and we will simply have no difficulties with the situation on international markets, since it will be irrelevant. We will then be able to regulate the work of all industries, including coal mining, in the ordinary course of business. This is what we should strive for, and this is one of our critical goals.

The situation on international markets matters, no doubt about it, and we must take it into account. But in order to be more flexible and more sustainable, we must rely primarily on the domestic market.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you.

I would like to invite our next speaker. Prime Minister of Mongolia, Gombojavyn Zandanshatar, you have the floor.

Prime Minister of Mongolia Gombojavyn Zandanshatar (retranslated): Esteemed President of the Russian Federation, Mr Putin,

Esteemed Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Sonexay Siphandone, esteemed Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Li Hongzhong!

Ladies and gentlemen!

Allow me to extend my greetings.

Mr Putin, I would like to sincerely thank you for your kind invitation to participate in the Eastern Economic Forum, which grows in significance and scale with each passing year. It is a great honour for me to take part in the jubilee tenth Eastern Economic Forum as the head of the executive power of Mongolia.

The regular assembly of the Eastern Economic Forum, along with its discussions on key issues of international and regional economic development, investment, infrastructure, energy, and environmental cooperation, is of great importance for shaping the future trajectories of our countries. This has firmly established the forum as a vital mechanism for dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region. I am confident it will continue to serve as an authoritative platform for meaningful discussions.

This year’s theme – Far East: Cooperation for Peace and Prosperity – is both timely and highly relevant. I believe that our deliberations here will help chart new avenues for joint development.

Amid large-scale political, social, and economic changes on the global stage, our countries are facing complex challenges in the social and economic spheres, including rising prices and persistent logistical and financial difficulties.

I am confident that the Far Eastern region – home to the majority of the world’s population and accounting for one-third of global GDP – will play a decisive role in the future. For this reason, Mongolia is keen to deepen trade and economic ties and to expand investment, particularly with the states of East and Southeast Asia.

Along with our geographical advantages, Mongolia boasts abundant natural resources as well as a young and skilled workforce. The Government of Mongolia has been pursuing consistent policies to harness these assets, attract investment, and foster trade and cooperation, and these efforts are already delivering results. Over the past three years, our economy has grown at an average annual rate of six percent, contributing to the region’s stable development.

The Government will continue its work on diversifying the economy, strengthening macroeconomic stability, creating a favorable business climate, and enhancing the openness of foreign trade.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are currently celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, an event that has been ingrained forever in the history of humankind including the peoples of Mongolia, Russia and China.

Our countries, eternal neighbours and strategic partners, keep strengthening and fostering bilateral and trilateral relations, overcoming all barriers, as we are set on expanding mutually beneficial cooperation.

Ten years ago, the three countries’ leaders signed a roadmap of cooperation between Mongolia, Russia and China, and identified the priorities of trilateral interaction. Several days ago – in fact, three days ago – the leaders had a meeting in China to discuss further cooperation plans.

I want to stress that Mongolia is ready to actively participate in the alignment of the Steppe Road Initiative, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Belt and Road Initiative, and also to promote and deepen the implementation of the economic corridor with Russia and China. We will ensure stable and fruitful participation on this track.

The programme of establishing an economic corridor Mongolia-Russia-China designed to develop and enhance comprehensive cooperation within the strategic partnership between Mongolia, Russia and China, will definitely enhance political trust, attract investment and contribute to regional integration. In this context, Mongolia has always had highest regard for the significance of and prospects for the 33 projects of the economic corridor. We believe that laying foundations for mutually beneficial cooperation, especially in road transport, helps attract investment from international banks and financial institutions. Regular trilateral meetings on the implementation of these projects also promote their advancement.

The parties have also agreed in principle on another major project – construction of a gas pipeline across the territory of Mongolia. I would like to declare with full responsibly from this rostrum that the Mongolian government is committed to rendering every possible support to this mega project. We believe this project will unveil new economic opportunities, will be beneficial for the environment and strategically important. It will become a project of great significance for trilateral cooperation.

Esteemed Mr Putin, I express sincere gratitude to Alexei Miller for this project. Thank you.

In addition, our countries are also discussing an upgrade of the central transport corridor connecting our three nations, setting up new railway interchanges and the development of cross border checkpoints which meet international standards. These are all strategically important and economically advantageous projects. We think the implementation of these programmes and projects contributes to expanding trade and transport links between Russia, China, Asia and Europe and also steps up regional cooperation.

An interim agreement on free trade between Mongolia and the Eurasian Economic Union and its member states was signed at the meeting of the Eurasian Economic Commission Supreme Council in Minsk last June. Under the agreement, tariffs were cut on 367 goods and temporary customs duties on some goods were completely scrapped, which was in important step forward in regional economic integration.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Eastern Economic Forum will help open up new opportunities to fight crises in the Far East, Asia and the Pacific Region, invigorate regional cooperation in the economy and other areas, and also launch new important joint projects and programmes.

We are totally ready to expand cooperation and to advance the development of the region together. Over the past time, we have initiated a multitude of programmes and measures to enhance integration. Stepping up these efforts, filling them with new content will definitely serve our common interests.

I wish all the participants of the Eastern Economic Forum success, achievements in work, and good health.

Thank you.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you very much.

I have a follow-up question. Mr Gombojavyn Zandanshatar, you mentioned the Power of Siberia. Mongolia took an active part in the SCO Summit when a trilateral meeting was held.

I have the following question – I was looking for information which was not available until now – will you buy our gas or will you render transit services only?

Gombojavyn Zandanshatar (retranslated): We are engaged in trilateral efforts to lay that gas pipeline from Russia across Mongolia to China. At present, all technical and economic aspects have been completed, including research.

It is a large-scale trilateral project. The parties agreed in principle on laying this gas pipeline.

I can say with all responsibility that we are fully prepared for the construction. We attach great importance to laying this pipeline in a proper way. At today’s meeting with Alexei Miller we had a detailed discussion of all the relevant issues, how to implement this project efficiently and without any failures, and also to ink a trilateral intergovernmental agreement.

Mongolia is not only a transit country. It can also buy and consume natural gas, connect its big cities to this gas pipeline, that is, build a gas distribution network. It will contribute to industrial development and mitigate environmental disasters such as winter smog in Ulaanbaatar, and will offer new opportunities for Mongolia’s economy. It will become a strategically crucial natural resource to solve current issues. Under the project, 50 billion cubic metres of gas will be transferred by that pipeline annually. It is evidently one of the biggest projects of the century. I believe it will also involve a lot of organisational efforts.

I would like to thank and congratulate everyone on this project.

Maria Rybakova: So are you ready to buy gas?

Gombojavyn Zandanshatar: Research work is currently underway. The devil is in the details, that’s why more research and discussions are needed.

Maria Rybakova (addressing Alexei Miller): I ask you to place it on record, Mr Miller, that I have just reached an agreement, as it appears.

Mr Putin, obviously, the next question is a logical follow-up on our discussion of the Power of Siberia. The memorandum has been signed and caused a stir. Everybody had a sigh of relief, as it seemed to me. The term of the agreement is 30 years. I have not seen the specific price. As I understand, it must be a commercial secret, yet they say that the prices will be lower than in Europe, at least.

There was a Soviet joke that we are giving our oil to Europe through “Friendship.” What do you think, are we going to give the “power” of our Siberia to China?

Vladimir Putin: This is a mutually beneficial project.

As for prices, they are based on the market and are actually estimated using the same formula as for Europe. The formula is the same but its components, the prices of various products, which make up the gas price, they are simply different in different regions of the world. The prices in Europe differ from those in Asia. And the formula to determine the price is the same, it is absolutely market-based.

We had long talks and every time when participants in the economic activity are talking and trying to find a solution – and most of the people here are like those – everybody understands well enough: this is not an easy process yet everybody is striving to reach the result both negotiating sides are interested in.

Gazprom and its Chinese partners have reached such a result in the course of their years-long efforts. I can only congratulate them all once again. It is really one of the major energy projects in the world.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you.

Since we have approached the energy projects anyway, I still want to listen to the story about how Laos managed to make such a stride. I want to ask how you could become the main power source? I understand that our technical issues have now been resolved. Mr Sonexay Siphandone, please tell us the secret of your energy market. How did you manage to achieve such great results? Why does everybody want to connect to your power source?

Sonexay Siphandone (retranslated): Thank you very much for your question.

This is a very important question. We consider the electric power to be a priority area for us, like oil and natural gas. The thing is that we are a country that purchases 100 percent of its oil and gas, and for this reason the electric power is important for us, and it is also green power. Our government encourages a broader use of electric power.

We also regard the development of hydropower engineering as a priority, as we have abundant water resources and many rivers in our country. All this allows us to build a large number of hydroelectric power plants. Ninety-five percent of the energy that we produce comes from hydropower engineering. The total capacity exceeds 12 million megawatts. We plan to increase this figure to 30 million megawatts.

Still, given the climate changes and other calamities, the problem looks still greater for us, especially during the rain and draught seasons. This is why we resort to other, alternative energy sources. Specifically, we use wind and the solar energy.

We would like to thank President Putin, after our President visited Russia at the end of July. During the talks, peaceful use of nuclear energy was discussed, as well as the use of nuclear energy products in medicine. We talked about cooperation in agriculture. I firmly believe that cooperation with the Russian Federation will make it possible for us to develop our energy sector, and it will develop in a more stable manner. Moreover, we will ensure stability in the production and consumption of energy.

Of course, we cannot speak for entire Asia, but given our development priorities, we focus on advancing technology and science. We are creating a network of metadata centres to develop the ICT sector, and all of this requires energy. Therefore, we give priority to meeting domestic demand for energy and then export energy to neighbouring countries.

We are developing a power transmission network in order to cover more Asian countries.

Previously, we exported electricity to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. We also exported electricity to Singapore and Malaysia. Nowadays, we are beginning the second stage of all these projects. Yes, these are all priority areas for us, but, I repeat, energy must be provided first for our own domestic consumption and also meet the needs of neighbouring countries if we export this electricity there. There are very good prospects for our sector. I have just described them.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: We are discussing cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. You keep bringing me back to cooperation, say, with our friends and allies in the People’s Republic of China. We have not yet talked about India: there are many plans there, too. But the Asia-Pacific region also includes, say, the United States. And there are many interested parties there who want to resume or begin new work with us.

We are talking about the Asia-Pacific region. We have received excellent proposals for working with US companies in Alaska: they have resources there, and we have technologies for extracting and liquefying gas that are much more effective than those that some of our American partners have. They know this, and at the level of economic players, companies are ready for cooperation. It does not depend on us. We are also ready, but if any political decisions are made there, we will move in this direction, and we can work together in the Arctic, too.

By the way, we have already discussed possible work in a trilateral format on some of our Arctic fields with our Chinese friends. In fact, all these options are being discussed, they are on the table. We only need a political decision. This is possible, and cooperation in both gas and oil would be mutually beneficial.

Maria Rybakova: Mr Putin, what do you think is the obstacle now preventing us from starting this as soon as possible? What is putting spokes in our wheels?

Vladimir Putin: This is not a question for me. We are not putting spokes or anything in any wheels.

Maria Rybakova: I see.

Vladimir Putin: Initially, you asked about our eagle, which is one of our symbols. It looks in one direction and in the opposite. Look at the eagle now. Did we turn away from anyone? No, we did not turn away from anyone. The eagle continues to look both ways.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you.

I would like to give the floor to Li Hongzhong, member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

Please, the floor is yours.

Li Hongzhong (retranslated): President Putin, Prime Minister Siphandone of Laos, Prime Minister Zandanshatar of Mongolia.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

I am delighted to meet you all in Vladivostok, the pearl of the Russian Far East, at the 10th Eastern Economic Forum.

This year marks the Forum’s tenth anniversary. A decade ago, thanks to the initiative of President Putin and his personal support, the Forum’s remarkable journey began here.

Over the past nine years of dedicated work, the Forum has grown into a vital platform for fostering cooperation in the Far East and advancing regional development.

It has become a powerful driver for unlocking the potential of the Russian Far East and strengthening the economy of Northeast Asia.

Over the past nine years, we have witnessed not only the growth of the Forum, but also remarkable progress and breakthroughs in the history of China–Russia relations. Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin, political mutual trust has deepened steadily, while comprehensive cooperation between our two countries has continued to expand.

The breadth, depth, and high quality of our bilateral cooperation reflect the vitality of interregional ties and exchanges. In this context, I would like to highlight the strong momentum of cooperation within the Northeast China – Russian Far East framework, made possible by the personal attention and efforts of our two heads of state.

For many years, China has remained the largest trading partner and leading external investor in the Russian Far East. In 2024, trade under the Northeast China – Russian Far East framework reached $105.8 billion, representing 43 percent of total bilateral trade and serving as a key driving force in China–Russia economic relations.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

This year marks the 80^th anniversary of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Great Patriotic War, and the world war against fascism. Eighty years ago, in the face of the evil forces of fascism, China, the Soviet Union, and other peace-loving countries and peoples stood firm in defending historical truth and justice, and delivered a decisive rebuff.

China and the Soviet Union, as the principal theatres of World War II in Asia and Europe, endured enormous sacrifices and made a historic contribution to the victory in the world anti-fascist war.

In May and September, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in the celebrations of the victory anniversary in Moscow and Beijing. They defended the outcomes of World War II and the principles of international justice while calling on the entire world to remember history and open a path to the future.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

Today, the world is undergoing profound and accelerating changes. Global challenges are not diminishing, and the lack of global governance is becoming increasingly acute. Many issues transcend the internal affairs of individual states and cannot be resolved by any country alone.

Just a few days ago, President Xi Jinping put forward an initiative on global governance at the SCO Plus meeting. This initiative focuses on the vital question of what kind of global governance system should be created, and how it can be reformed and improved.

This represents China’s vision for effectively addressing global challenges and deepening international cooperation. It reflects the expectations of many stakeholders, demonstrates the responsibility of a major power, and expresses its desire to build a community of shared destiny for humankind.

China and Russia are influential powers and constructive forces supporting global strategic stability and advancing global governance. We are ready to fully leverage the advantages that our two neighbouring countries enjoy, and to strengthen close and united cooperation with all regional partners, including Russia, in the spirit of joint consultations, joint construction, and shared benefit. Together, we can move toward a bright future of peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation. In this context, I would like to offer the following opinion.

First – peace and stability contribute to development. Peaceful, stable and prosperous Northeast Asia meets the interests of all the countries in the region and is a common dream of its peoples. China has long been pursuing the path of amicability and establishing neighbourly, partner relations with adjacent nations, supporting the countries of the region in selecting a development path consonant with their national realities. We are ready to deepen mutual political trust and alignment of interests, jointly safeguard the regional stability and respond to common risks and challenges.

Second – openness and tolerance contribute to prosperity. As the Chinese adage goes, ‘Openness leads to progress while isolation – to lagging behind.’ Amid current globalisation, none of the countries is progressing alone. We back up an open, transparent, inclusive and non-discriminatory multilateral trade system and advocate the creation of an open-type regional economy, unlocking the potential of natural peculiarities and the geographical advantages of the world’s countries. We are ready – through joint consultations, joint construction and joint use – to strengthen cooperation in production and supply chains, remove protectionism, assist in the free movement of capital, market and technologies for the sake of economic integration in the region.

Third – reciprocal exchange and assimilation contribute to cementing mutual understanding. Spiritual bonding of nations is a foundation for friendly relations between our countries. Our countries are bonded by common mountains and rivers, our cultures influence each other. Our peoples maintain close ties while our friendship is rooted in the past.

We need to continue this friendly timeline, deepen reciprocal exchanges and training, enhance cooperation in tourism, education, youth affairs, culture and art. We need to make people’s trips easier so as to foster neighbourliness and friendship.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

A Chinese adage says, ‘When everyone’s efforts are joined, victory is inevitable.’ Peace and prosperity in our region are inseparable from each party’s efforts. China is ready “to open its doors” so as to share new development opportunities with all countries of the world on the basis of the news results of China’s modernisation and China’s greater openness.

We are ready to promote neighbourliness and friendship, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation for the sake of joint usage of the results of the development of all the region’s countries for our wonderful common future.

I wish all the participants fruitful work. Thank you for your attention.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you very much.

Right after your remarks, I would like to touch upon your meeting yesterday, which focused on Russia’s reciprocal decision to abolish visas. We discussed this earlier, and you mentioned during your visit to China that China introduced a visa-free arrangement for Russians.

My immediate question is this: While expanded tourism will certainly benefit both countries’ economies and cultural ties, the main concern remains, Mr President, which is the matter of payments.

For example, I want to visit China as a tourist, but I don’t have a Visa card, and my Mastercard is blocked here. I got a UnionPay card issued about three years ago, but it no longer works. Today, very few banks can issue such cards, and those that do are ruble-based, meaning payments are made in rubles. The only option is to carry cash and exchange it or find a more creative solution. Unfortunately, I haven’t mastered cryptocurrency yet.

Are there any preconditions for making the system of payments between our countries more transparent and accessible?

I would like to pose the same question, in turn, to Mr Li Hongzhong.

Vladimir Putin: First of all, I would like to emphasise that the decision by China’s political leadership – clearly made at the highest level – allowing visa-free entry for Russian citizens into the People’s Republic of China came as a complete surprise to us. We had no prior knowledge of it, and it was especially welcome.

Naturally, this decision is a strong sign of friendship, which we deeply appreciate. It will undoubtedly lead to a significant increase in mutual travel, create more favourable conditions for businesses, and further strengthen the ties between our two countries. This is simply self-evident.

To travel to any country, including China, an ordinary person usually needs to visit several authorities, submit documents, and go through various formalities. Now, with this visa-free arrangement, one can simply board a plane and fly – no bureaucracy. Right? This will undoubtedly bring our two countries closer together. Naturally, we will respond in kind to this gesture of friendship and adopt the same measures.

Regarding tourist travel, it is true that the system of payments needs further improvement. We are working on this intensively. Our financial institutions of the highest level are attending to this matter, along with commercial banks.

I do not want to make more comments at the moment, so as not to create any difficulties for future decisions. This is also connected with the need to respect the interests of financial institutions operating under sanctions pressure. Nevertheless, possible solutions do exist.

We are perfectly aware that steps must be taken for tourists to have as few difficulties as possible. They can certainly use our Mir payment card, and similar Chinese instruments. These payment instruments can be aligned, third countries’ bank cards can also be used. I assure you that the central banks of both countries are working on this and will find a solution.

The heads of the financial institutions discussed all these issues in my presence and in the presence of President Xi Jinping right now, during our delegation’s visit to the Chinese People’s Republic. They are maintaining a dialogue and keep discussing this matter.

I am confident that decisions are forthcoming.

Maria Rybakova: OK, then we’ll be waiting.

Mr Li Hongzhong, we would like to hear a comment on the matter from the Chinese side.

Li Hongzhong (retranslated): Thank you for your question.

The Chinese Government is introducing a visa-free regime for Russian citizens. These are important outcomes and agreements between our heads of state. It is a meaningful sign of enhanced large-scale progress in the Russian-Chinese relations.

I have attentively followed President’s Putin’s reply. I think President Putin’s answer is very professional and sets benchmarks for further development.

I will not go into detail either, but I think, since our countries will meticulously work out all the issues together, we are sure to remove difficulties and technical issues related to payments. Therefore, we are confident we will achieve our goals.

For example, circulation of Chinese currencies and payments. Of course, we hardly use cash now in China, we use our telephones for payments. This is a hard time for thieves because we do not use cash, it’s just a payment method.

When I arrived in Vladivostok, I also had a good impression because I used my telephone here just like in Beijing. It means we already have good alignment in telecommunications.

We also have to work on financial communications at the next stage. I think that we will certainly reach these goals through joint efforts.

I have just mentioned Russian-Chinese cooperation. I said we need to ensure the free movement of capital, markets and people. I firmly believe that we will definitely solve this issue.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you for the answer.

Well, it looks like my only hope is the QR codes, no other options.

Then, I want to come over from a good and friendly agenda to a not so friendly agenda and travel to the other part of the planet. As a matter of principle, you have answered media questions at the news conference in China just the day before. I mean the Ukraine crisis and everything concerning relations with America, everything happening in the area of the special military operation.

Just yesterday, another meeting of the ‘coalition of the willing’ was concluded in Paris. Basically, I didn’t see any specific decisions taken at the end of it. So far, it's just talk about deploying military forces in Ukraine. But Donald Trump said he would call. First question: has he called yet? And the second question: What do you think about the decisions proposed by the other side?

Vladimir Putin: We have an open dialogue with President Trump. We have agreed to call each other, if need be, and talk. He knows that I am open to such talks, as well as he is – I know it. However, so far, based on the results of these consultations in Europe, we have not had any discussions. Actually, it was difficult for me to do this, as I have just arrived from China and am here now. We have no communication problems here. This is the first point.

Second, regarding possible military contingents in Ukraine. This is one on the basic reasons for dragging Ukraine into NATO. So, if any troops appear there, especially now, during combat operations, we will deem them legitimate targets for destruction.

And if any decisions leading to peace, a lasting peace, are achieved, then I will not see the sense of their deployment in Ukraine, that’s it.

If agreements are achieved, then no one should doubt that Russia will execute them in full. We will observe the security guarantees, which, of course, would be drafted both for Russia and Ukraine. And I will say it again: Russia will observe these agreements. Anyway, nobody has ever discussed it with us seriously, that’s that.

Maria Rybakova: Thus we will be waiting. Time will tell, as they say.

The next question is about peace settlement. You said earlier that you basically see a certain potential in this regard and even invited Vladimir Zelensky to Moscow. However, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has officially declined it. Do I take it right – or maybe I am wrong – that we cannot speak about any steps towards peace settlement in the nearest future?

Vladimir Putin: I would like you to stick closer to the topics of the Asia-Pacific economic cooperation. But I realise that without solving such acute problems, cooperation as a whole is burdened, so these are legitimate questions.

What can I say?

First, just recently the leadership of the Kiev regime spoke unflatteringly of us, to put it mildly, and excluded any possibility of direct contacts. Now we see that they are asking for such contacts, at least they are suggesting having them.

I have repeatedly said that I am ready for such contacts. At the news conference in Beijing that you mentioned I said that I do not see much sense in them. Why? Because it will be impossible to come to terms with the Ukrainian side on the key issues. Even if they have political will – which I doubt – there are legal and technical difficulties which are related to the fact that any agreements on territories must be confirmed, under the Ukrainian constitution, in a referendum. To hold a referendum, a martial law must be lifted, as referenda are not held under martial law. If martial law is lifted, presidential elections must be held right away. After the referendum, if it is held, regardless of its results, it must be endorsed by a Constitutional Court’s ruling. But the Constitutional Court is not functioning because, as I see it, after it received enquiries on the legitimacy of the incumbent authorities, the court dodged rulings while the head of the regime ordered the security guards not to let the Constitutional Court Chairman to his office. This is the kind of democracy they have there. Meanwhile the Supreme Court Chairman is in jail on corruption charges. It is common knowledge that corruption abounds in Ukraine. But is not clear why it is exactly the Supreme Court Chairman who should be put behind bars. Although it is clear that they have reached the point of destroying their judicial system as such. This is yet another vivid example of how “democratic” the current Ukrainian authorities are. So this is an endless process leading to nowhere. Nevertheless, we said that we are ready for a top-level meeting.

Look, the Ukrainian side wants this meeting and suggests it should be held. I said, ‘I am ready, please come, we will certainly provide proper conditions for work and security, with a 100 percent guarantee.’ But if we are told, ‘We want to meet with you, but you should go to some place for this meeting,’ I think these are just excessive demands towards us.

Let me reiterate – if someone really wants to meet with us, we are ready. The best place for it is the capital of the Russian Federation, the hero city of Moscow.

Maria Rybakova: Mr Putin, thank you for the answer.

May I ask one more question? And then we will definitely switch to the Far East.

Vladimir Putin: Go ahead.

Maria Rybakova: I would like to go back to the root causes of the special military operation.

Literally, during the same news conference, you said you saw no obstacles and had no problem with Ukraine accessing the EU. That same day, a statement by former Ukrainian President Yanukovich was released. He enjoyed support at the time, and we got along with him just fine. I understood that he also always said that he wanted and looked to the West. Maybe, I misunderstood it. Were you talking about the same thing, or not?

Vladimir Putin: I have no way of knowing how you understood it. I will tell you how things are, and things are as follows. Indeed, Ukraine set itself a goal – and still has it – to join the EU. To reiterate, this is Ukraine’s legitimate choice. It decides how to build its international relations, how to ensure its interests in the economic sphere, and whom to conclude alliances with.

The problem for us when Yanukovich was president was that Ukraine’s integration into the European system of economic relations entailed certain economic issues, because Ukraine was part of the free trade zone, our customs borders were open, and for us this implied certain consequences. Ukraine had to compare, put on the scales and see what it was losing in contacts with us in direct monetary and cooperative terms, and what it was gaining there. This is what President Yanukovich thought about. He ran the numbers and that made him cry, because opening markets to competitive, highly competitive European products was killing the manufacturing industry in Ukraine and shutting down cooperative and trade relations with Russia. That was the problem. As far as I remember, he did not say no to joining the EU, on the contrary, he wanted to join it. I do not know what he said, but I know for sure that he wanted it and was striving for it, but on terms that were acceptable to Ukraine.

It did not concern us in any way other that it affected our interests in cooperation ties. But otherwise, no problem, we have never objected to any integration moves in Ukraine’s policies with Europe.

Security issues are a different matter. President Yanukovich and Ukrainian prime minister were against drawing Ukraine into NATO. This issue directly affected us and continues to affect us from the point of view of ensuring Russia’s long-term security interests.

What happened next? As a result of the coup, they got Yanukovich out of power. They removed the person who was against Ukraine joining NATO, and used a bloody coup in Kiev to bring to power forces that advocated and continue to advocate for Ukraine’s NATO membership. This does not suit us at all.

Even though each country can choose how it prefers to ensure its own security, such issues cannot be addressed without regard for Russia’s security, because there is a general rule included in the European documents: the security of one country cannot be ensured at the expense of the security of another country.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you.

Russia, and especially the Far East – we are going to talk about wealth – naturally boasts enormous natural resources. This also applies to fish resources. Recently, I came across some interesting statistics, which I would like to share with you.

According to the data, in 2024, Russia’s crab exports to China reached a historic high of over 41,000 tonnes. For comparison: supplies of Russian crab to the domestic market over the same period amounted to about 8,000 tonnes. In other words, we have a sort of crab paradox: the crab really does walk sideways, bypassing us and heading instead to Korea, Japan, and China.

Do you think Russia has sufficient processing capacity at its ports to add value through processing, and supply it to the domestic market instead of just catching and auctioning it? After all, live crab is the most expensive product and, as far as I know, all live shipments are currently going in the opposite direction.

Vladimir Putin: It is not about prices, although that is certainly one of the key factors.

In order to improve and expand the supply of this product to Russian regions, the issue of logistics must first be resolved. We transport it by rail, which is costly, or by air, which is even more costly. That is the problem. Seafood – both fish and crab – ends up mainly in expensive restaurants. Why? Because it has to be flown in. If we could organise transportation and build logistics correctly, the situation would change.

However, I should note that fish products from the Far East – not only crab, but seafood in general – account for about 75 percent of the national catch, if I recall correctly. Of this, about 65 percent is also processed here.

Today, logistics is the most sensitive issue. We are working on it. We are giving it serious attention, and we will expand our capacity to distribute seafood, including crab, to all regions of the Russian Federation. This is indeed a problem.

Moreover, according to Ministry of Health standards, we are not yet meeting recommended levels of seafood and fish consumption. If I am not mistaken, the norm is 28 kg per capita per year, while today we are at around 23–23.5 kg. Clearly, there is work to be done here. We are thinking about it, and I hope this issue will be resolved.

Maria Rybakova: Wonderful.

Since we mentioned transport and accessibility, intraregional flights in the Russian Far East are not, of course, a matter of comfort but a matter of survival. There is simply no other way to reach some areas with such long distances.

I would like to tell you a brief story. I have a friend who lives in Khabarovsk. He needed to fly to Vladivostok but there were no direct tickets available. I think everybody who lives here knows how difficult it is to grab an intraregional flight ticket. And you wouldn’t want to drive 750 km. I hear from drivers they travel with two spare tyres just in case. Anyway, my friend bought a connecting flight through Moscow and flew from Khabarovsk first to Moscow, where he spent four hours in an airport, then boarded a plane and flew to Vladivostok. So, he did all that and, as their plane was approaching Vladivostok, due to adverse weather, their flight was diverted to a backup airfield in Khabarovsk. Overall, he spent 24 hours flying from Khabarovsk to Khabarovsk. Clearly, it is an anecdote but I think it explains a lot.

When do you think we can resolve the issue of medium-haul aircraft? Today, I’ve also come across news that the State Transport Leasing Company signed an agreement to lease 50 Baikal aircraft.

Perhaps I have missed something. Is Mr Trutnev here? I can’t see him. We have spoken and he told me that there is no such thing as a Baikal aircraft. They bought an aircraft that does not exist yet. I am a little confused. I don’t know, perhaps there is a reason to stop by the stand of the Prosecutor General’s Office? Do these aircraft exist or not, Mr President? And what are the prospects of intraregional flights in the Russian Far East?

Vladimir Putin: Unfortunately, although there was a rather decent local airline network set up in the Soviet times, it was lost in the 1990s. It was mostly neglected in the early 2000s, so people had to, and still have to, fly from one city, even if major, to another city via Moscow, like your friend. But we have already established a local airline. Of course, the key issue is the availability of medium-haul aircraft in sufficient quantity. The Government, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and our domestic enterprises have many plans in this area.

Unfortunately, I have to agree that this matter is taking longer than we wanted. But there is Baikal and other small aircraft that are to replace Antonov An-2. This is work in progress.

I will be honest, sometimes we argue with some of our responsible parties. They will have to expedite these efforts.

We have plans and specific models ready. They have been launched, and I have seen them in operation. The next step is serial production and supplies to airlines. We will certainly do all we can to speed up the process.

We are aware of this problem and of the fact that it still persists. We will keep on working on solutions.

I will not list everything. We have Baikal and many other aircraft models. I have seen them in operation. But serial production is not yet launched.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you very much.

In your speech, you mentioned investment growth; and indeed, foreign investment has increased over the past four years.

My question is this: if we look at the investment climate as a whole, foreign investment mainly comes from a few major countries, including China.

Also, it seemed to me that in your speech, you placed considerable emphasis on technological progress, underscoring the need to develop knowledge-intensive and complex industries. Yet, and this is no secret to anyone, investment is still largely directed toward commodity sectors such as mining, oil, gas, coal, and the infrastructure that supports them.

So, perhaps a logical question would be: is there a risk of falling into a commodity trap, where we would be perceived exclusively as an investment partner in these areas?

Vladimir Putin: No, there is no such trap or threat of falling into one. That risk would exist only if we did nothing. You paid attention to my speech, and one of my central – if not the main – arguments was precisely that: when it comes to investment, we must make the region as a whole more innovative.

This is not a problem of our partners that they tend to invest into the extraction of mineral resources. It is our problem. We should create conditions for the development of innovative sectors of the economy, and for people with the right expertise to come to work here. In fact, such a trend is already emerging, as I mentioned. Our task is to build the right environment.

I can assure you that our partners will be eager to invest in promising enterprises, provided that their implementation also brings them benefits. That is the only way it works; there is no alternative. I am confident that we can implement all of these plans.

By the way, we discussed these issues with our Chinese partners, our friends, in Beijing. Overall, we should organise our work, calibrating it to high technology economic sectors. This is what we are going to do. This is the only future for our economies and our countries, the foundation of our shared success. This certainly applies to the regions of the Far East as well.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you.

I would like to ask about the economy more broadly…

Vladimir Putin: One more thing about mineral resources – I have just looked at Mr Miller and recalled it – is that the concept that we can just drill a hole, and oil and gas will just pour through it is a primitive one. Mr Mikhelson here knows very well what liquefied natural gas is. The technologies he and his team have adopted do not exist anywhere else in the world. This is a high technology sector. And I say this without exaggeration, without hyperbole – it is the truth. The same applies to the gas sector as a whole.

Gazprom’s cooperation with our Chinese friends and partners is not limited to supply contracts. It is a genuine strategic partnership, which means that people are working together on technology-intensive industries, including gas. And there is plenty of work to be done to ensure the effectiveness and profitability for both suppliers and buyers. An extensive number of advanced technological solutions are necessary.

This work within the framework of strategic partnerships between interested companies has already been established and is underway. The only task now is to extend it to related and promising industries, such as artificial intelligence, and of course, we will do this.

We have agreements in the aviation industry with China as well. I am going to fly to another Russian city soon, where I will talk about engine manufacturing. There are plans to work on aviation, which is, by the way, well-represented in the Far East, including both military and civilian aircraft. Sukhoi Superjet 100 is manufactured here in the Far East. There are areas that can be improved, and the same applies to shipbuilding.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you.

I have a joke. I did not know how this plenary session would go so I checked a job hunt website in Vladivostok. By the way, I did not find a single job opening for a television presenter but I was curious to see what else is offered. What jobs and professions are really in demand here? I have mostly seen driver jobs – with salaries of up to 400,000 rubles, by the way – junior executives or pressing operators. Mr President, I have hardly seen any jobs for IT professionals. Even the most in-demand professionals section did not mention IT. I found one job opening in software development, but this is not much.

According to a SberIndex analysis, businesses in the Russian Far East are growing faster than on average in the country – and you said so yourself. And yet, this is mainly due to building large production facilities and production of mineral resources. The IT sector is lagging behind.

In your opinion, what could solve this problem if employers start seeking IT professionals? Are they to be ‘imported’? How can the Far East attract highly qualified technology professionals and incentivise them to stay here and treat this region as their home rather than a temporary placement?

Vladimir Putin: I have spoken about this at length in my remarks and said that young people do move here as they see prospects. There is a demand for young professionals. This trend is apparent but it needs reinforcement from the government. The region needs support in shaping a new image of local economic development, mainly with the help of advanced technologies.

I do not know what you have seen on websites, but I know for certain, having heard it from top managers of local companies, that there is a shortage of highly qualified workforce. The Zvezda shipbuilding complex that we have mentioned today is building a large-capacity fleet that we have not had before. We also need aviation professionals here.

It goes without saying that we need to develop all modern technologies so that we can go beyond developing the Far Eastern and Arctic mineral resources and can make this region part of Russia’s technology-intensive production in general. It is what we plan to do and it will elevate the region to a new development stage.

Maria Rybakova: Mr President, another aspect concerns the exorbitant wage demands among blue-collar workers as drivers want 400,000 rubles and welders want 500,000, for example. This is another side of the story. How can this matter be resolved in your opinion? Is it appropriate today to seek such high wages?

Vladimir Putin: I believe the more people earn the better.

Maria Rybakova: Certainly.

Vladimir Putin: It does matter. I said that it is an economic category. The higher the wage the higher the spending. The higher the spending the more Russian products are popular in the market because usually, people wish to buy Russian-made goods, and so on. This is another economic factor – and a positive one. Moreover, it makes people’s lives better.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you.

Of course, since we are talking about wages, I would really like to discuss what is happening with the Russian economy in general. Many statements have been made on the sidelines of the forum.

Vladimir Putin: I am not the only one here.

Maria Rybakova: Yes, of course, Mr President. But you see, I have so many questions for you. I will certainly have questions for the other guests. For now, I would like to focus on what is happening in the economy.

German Gref says he has noted signs of technical stagnation in the Russian economy. Do you agree with this?

Vladimir Putin: No.

Maria Rybakova: Mr Gref, there you go.

Vladimir Putin: He knows this well. We maintain constant contact. He regularly participates in our meetings, including those I hold with the Government and the Central Bank. Some members of the Government share his opinion, mainly because the Central Bank is holding the rate high to combat inflation.

You complained about prices in shops. The goal is not only to bring prices in shops down but also to ensure that economic actors also restrain price growth. We can discuss anything but I do not want to give assessments now. I have my own view, of course, but let me refrain from evaluating the Central Bank’s work. Let me note instead that our Central Bank is highly respected across the international finance community. This is first-hand information.

The Central Bank’s policy is deliberate. In 2023, Russia’s GDP grew by 4.3 percent; and in 2024, by 4.4 percent. At the same time, inflation rose, too. We need to address macroeconomic challenges and ensure a soft, smooth landing of the economy to stabilise key macroeconomic indicators and slow down price growth.

Yes, I know the debates very well: we discuss this daily. Just yesterday we were talking about this. Some experts believe that the economy has cooled down, but lending has not stopped. Ask Mr Gref himself: has lending stopped? No. The pace has slowed down, yes.

I know some industries are going through rough times, and people present here also understand this very well. However, everyone also understands that nothing good will happen if inflation spins out of control. It would become impossible to plan anything, not just years ahead, but even ten days ahead. This is a very delicate issue. Take banks, for example. You can ask the Chairman of VTB. He will tell you: yes, perhaps they have overdone it, maybe the economy has cooled somewhat too much.

Maria Rybakova: Mr Kostin often complains about the key rate.

Vladimir Putin: Yes. The Ministry of Economic Development will tell you the same thing. And all of them are right in their own way. But I am confident that we will eventually find a way to maintain the necessary pace of economic growth while keeping inflation to a minimum. I think that’s enough for this discussion format.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you.

My next question is for Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. In 2021, Laos and China launched one of the largest high-speed railways. There have been reports that the railway may be subsequently extended to Thailand. It is a major project that requires complex technology and infrastructure.

My question is: is there an opportunity, a chance, or prospects for connecting the railway to Far Eastern ports? And how can this be done sooner? It would expedite both our trade and cooperation. Is this a realistic prospect? Perhaps discussions have already taken place.

Sonexay Siphandone (retranslated): As for transport, we are using a modern railway that is far more advanced compared to the railway we built many years ago.

As I have already said, we are turning from a country with no sea access into a country connected to others. On this project, we cooperate with China.

As you have noted, we cooperate in railway development. We have successfully completed this project. Of course, the coronavirus pandemic was a certain obstacle, but we have managed to overcome these difficulties in our strategic cooperation.

According to the respective initiative, I am completely certain that there is an agreement between Russia and China. If there is also an agreement between Russia, Laos and China, we will be able to transport products from Laos via China to the Far East, including to Russia.

The railway may open new cooperation opportunities for Russia and ASEAN, China and ASEAN, and improve Lao products’ access to the market. I would like to stress that this is an alternative route that is faster and more sustainable.

The government of Laos is considering the possibility of establishing sea routes to Vladivostok through China, potentially via Hainan or a Vietnamese port. We have already agreed on some aspects of this project to date.

It would be an excellent opportunity for us to cooperate with Vietnam. We have no access to the sea but we have made an agreement with Vietnam that would help us reach both China and Russia.

As for Mongolia, we could also use similar transport infrastructure to exchange products. Certainly, there are many advantages to developing the Laos-China railway network.

Thank you.

Maria Rybakova: Mr President, do you have anything to say in response?

Vladimir Putin: No, we are discussing it with our Lao friends, and we talked about it just yesterday.

We are in contact with our partners from third countries, including from Vietnam. Indeed, we are discussing all these logistic options; we are talking about expanding them. I think prospects are good.

Maria Rybakova: As for the railway tracks here, in Vladivostok, I know that it is a vexed question, I mean we want to have more and better railway tracks. The railway logistics still accounts for a large part [of infrastructure] in the Far East. Will it be renovated? You have already spoken this.

Vladimir Putin: Not large – they account for the larger part of the entire infrastructure. This is the so-called Eastern Operating Domain, the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Baikal-Amur Mainline; now a new railway has been built to Magadan, to the Sea of Okhotsk. This is a very good project and the results will be good. We will continue to develop all this.

I, as well as my colleagues, constantly talk about it. This is a key development area for the Far East and the country in general. The shipment volumes have multiplied. Well, what can I say about it? We will develop the Trans-Arctic Corridor – there are things to work on – together with the Northern Sea Route.

As for our friends in the Asian-Pacific region, I very much expect that all our efforts to develop transport logistics in the Far East would benefit – that was the intention – trade and economic relations with our partners, including our friends in Laos.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you. So, welcome as they say.

I want to note that this is my first time in Vladivostok. And, of course, I am very impressed both by its size and by how interesting it is. Really, it is a well-tended and, let us say, an interactive city. There is much to see here, and it has a certain authenticity. But I went on an excursion not far from here and I was, so to say, a bit surprised by the contrast. Central cities and regional centres really do look great, they are being transformed, but, to put it mildly, we certainly will not see a Zolotoy Bridge anywhere near Pevek.

What do you think should be done to make remote towns comfortable, authentic and beautiful, including from the point of view of infrastructure?

Vladimir Putin: Practically, it is all the same everywhere: the centre of the city looks one way, and the suburbs look differently. Thinking about developing our population centres so that people can live a comfortable life in any part of the city is an issue to be addressed by the municipal authorities, primarily regional authorities.

As for small towns, we have a programme to develop population centres. As far as I remember, there over 800 (I think, 804) towns in the country with the population under 50,000 people, or around 50,000. This is a major programme.

As regards the development of Russia’s towns and cities, there are many areas that work quite effectively for small towns. Without a doubt, this work needs to be expanded.

With regard to the Far East and the Arctic, we have a separate programme that includes 22 towns and cities at the first stage. The appropriate resources have been allocated, development plans have been drawn up, and the work has begun. I have briefly mentioned some of the results, but I believe that this is one of the key areas of work. We have just discussed this with our colleagues who stood, so to speak, at the beginning of this road, who initiated this process, which turned out to be very popular and effective.

I have already covered the importance of giving a new boost to economic growth. We need to bring in well-trained specialists to the region, who, of course, need adequate social conditions. There must be kindergartens, good schools, good education, and medicine. All of that should be developed in small towns as well.

To reiterate, there is a properly funded programme that covers 22 towns. Of course, we will expand this work.

Maria Rybakova: Still, we are discussing spending. I am just trying to smoothly segue to the budget deficit. In 2025, it was planned at about 1.2 trillion rubles. In the summer, it grew, according to official figures, to 3.8 trillion. We are only in September now. Clearly, things may change by the end of the year. I even heard a figure of up to eight trillion rubles. Again, I am not an economist, and I have no idea if it is possible or realistic at all.

How do you think this can even out? What mechanisms are planned to be used in the first place?

Vladimir Putin: I do not operate in terms such as “I think,” I can tell you what I believe, and I believe as follows. Indeed, spendings are growing, which is due to the infrastructure development plans, including in the Far East, because they require large financial resources. The Eastern Operating Domain, the Baikal-Amur Mainline, the Trans-Siberian Railway, and so on, the development of port infrastructure, airports, and so on. Spending on education and healthcare throughout the country, and spending in the defence and security sphere, including spending related to the special military operation – these are all spendings.

First, we need to work on the revenue part, and there are things to discuss, meaning, of course, not an increase in the tax burden, but simply an increase in production efficiency. We need to increase labour productivity, introduce the latest technologies, and better organise production processes. Here, I assure you, we have things to address, and the reserves are countless, meaning the opportunities are vast.

However, there are other things that can quite reassure us, and, rest assured, there is nothing scary about it. Some of our colleagues in the Government believe that this deficit can be increased, and it is not a big deal. Why? Because our debt burden levels – external and internal – are not just acceptable but are low. This guarantees the stability of the entire financial credit system, including the budget system.

The budget is built on a balanced basis. This is not an easy thing to do. It is actually a complex and even stressful effort, if I can put it that way, because achieving a balance between different sectors of the economy is a challenging task. The Government is coping with it.

Maria Rybakova: Mr President, I read the other day, and it was discussed during the forum sessions as well, that the Finance Ministry and, I think, Sberbank – (Addressing German Gref.) – is that correct, Mr Gref? – are planning to introduce artificial intelligence for budget work, to have the artificial intelligence somehow help form the budget? If I understood it correctly.

Mr President, how do you feel about the idea of using AI this way?

Vladimir Putin: My view on this is positive. But AI can only be an assistant, at least at this particular moment, at this stage of AI technology development. Today, these tools can only be used to assist the decision-making both at the level of the Central Bank and at the level of the Government.

Maria Rybakova: Then, the ball goes to Mr Li.

China has achieved quite significant success in the field of AI and is now among the leaders. In fact, the American and the Chinese neural networks are probably the two most popular ones. I know that China has been actively developing the platform economy for a long time now. This is a completely innovative type of economic activity. We are actively implementing these processes as well.

I have a question. How do you generally assess this leadership? What does China plan to do to keep cooperation between AI and the state going? What will it look like? What is the plan?

Li Hongzhong (retranslated): Thank you for your question.

You have touched on a critically important topic. AI is a way for all of humanity to achieve progress. AI is a new production force that drives our evolution, and it is very important to develop it. All countries around the world, including China, Russia, the United States and other countries, pay great attention to developing AI and promoting its technologies.

President Xi Jinping said in 2023 that the world will advance just four main principles of AI development: its universal popularisation, its further advancement, and our joint use of human and machine resources, as well as the promotion of these technologies in our everyday lives. These principles have been put forward.

In general, we will be implementing these principles in approximately three areas, such as scientific and technological innovations, and scientific and technological development. Innovation is the central element of developing the AI concept. Increasing the intended capacity, the computing capacity, and creating neural networks and models. This is connected with the development of high technology and the implementation of high-tech development plans overall. This is connected, of course, with the training of specialists and personnel management. This, of course, helps us train personnel.

We are creating new platforms. The United States is, without a doubt, leading here, but nevertheless China is constantly making great efforts to achieve an advantage in this area. For example, artificial intelligence. The level of forecasting and the degree of monopolisation in China in this area has reached 60 percent. We are making progress in matters of monopolising AI technology at a pace of about 20 percent annually. This, of course, is our advantage. We patent these technologies. This is one of the key areas of development.

The second component is that we are implementing our approaches, viewing AI as a path for the development of humanity, as a path to achieving well-being. President Xi Jinping put forward in his speeches the most important concept of a community of common destiny for humanity. We profess these ideas. One of the key components of this concept is an affluent and powerful state, and the promotion of general welfare for all groups of population.

We are steadily following the path of promoting high technologies. Take, for instance, China’s DeepSeek neural network. This model is already widely known. It makes it possible to achieve great results. It is an advanced technology. We were able to significantly reduce the cost value and thus overcome the threshold of achieving great benefits at minimal costs. This is, of course, one of the ways to develop AI.

Increasing the AI compute capacity offers new opportunities. We have discovered completely new areas of using it. Take, for example, technologies such as unmanned control of production processes. Its open source makes it possible to use these technologies efficiently. We can thus reach new heights in our work, simultaneously developing these AI technology and implementing them. Benefitting from the use of AI, we pay great attention to the environment that is necessary for using these technologies.

All this is designed to increase the production and capacity. Already now, the scope of AI use in production is showing exceedingly high growth. Its capitalisation has reached 700 billion yuan representing growth of about 20 percent annually. There are many areas that can help us improve the well-being of our people, develop these technologies across the board, and improve the lives of people in our country, as well as spread these technologies in the interests of industries and enterprises. This, of course, provides us with new advantages. The multifaceted and comprehensive use of such technologies is the key area of our country’s development.

We have opened the gates to the use of AI technology in people’s lives, and we would also like this technology to make progress in Russia, as you, Mr President, and our President, Comrade Xi Jinping, have already jointly stated. We must make the most out of the Russian Far East and our territories in order to develop AI in our respective countries.

Thank you very much for your attention.

Maria Rybakova: Mr President, I am not going to ask you whether it is possible to use AI to run a country.

My question is: Do you think that AI can be trusted with setting the key interest rate? I hope Ms Nabiullina forgives me for asking this.

Vladimir Putin: I have already said, I think, no, take that back, I believe that the capabilities of AI can be used when making any kinds of decisions, and they should be used in making any decisions across all areas, including in matters overseen by the Central Bank. However, decisions of that kind must be made by a specific person that should bear responsibility for them. You cannot hold AI accountable. It is just a tool. Humans should do the actual work.

By the way, our Chinese participant, our friend from China has a high political rank, he is a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee. But we just heard him provide expert assessments in a fairly serious area of AI. Humans should make decisions. And such people should be in China and in Russia. They should use AI and develop these tools.

Maria Rybakova: I hope AI will not replace me or other people who do my kind of work.

Vladimir Putin: Why not? There are neural networks, and I think there are AI-based television presenters as well.

Maria Rybakova: That is it, I'm done for. But the human side, Mr President, will go away if AI were to ask you questions.

Vladimir Putin: Or it will get better with the help of AI.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, does anyone have anything to add to the questions that have been asked? We are gradually approaching the finish line.

I have one last question left, which is rather philosophical. Mr President, it is about the Far East, but, not entirely about the economy.

Here it goes. For some reason, I thought that the Far East really does live in the future, because it is 5:00 pm here, and it is morning in Moscow. You and I are in the middle of the day, or rather, it is almost an evening.

Overall, the world looks rather strange today. Everyone is talking about it a lot, including turbulence and crises that flare up non-stop, and this is not only about the Ukraine crisis, but Israel and Palestine as well. Flashpoints like that abound.

What do you think of Russia’s future in this world? This is the first question. And the second is do you think the world of the coming decades will be more Western or Eastern?

Vladimir Putin: It will be multipolar.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you.

All that remains for me to do is to thank you for trusting me with asking you questions today.

Also, in closing, I am very grateful to the Far East for such a warm welcome.

As Mr President has rightly pointed out, tomorrow, and some of us today, will be heading west. Therefore, I would like to sum it up and say that, since we mentioned the double-headed eagle at the very beginning, perhaps our uniqueness and strength lie in the fact that we are not choosing but looking in both directions at once. I think this seamlessly fits with the motto of the anniversary forum on cooperation in the name of peace and prosperity.

Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: For my part, I would like to thank all the participants, including our foreign guests, my colleagues who are working here with me today, and the audience for their joint efforts, because this is also part of the work, as well as our charming moderator for making such an interesting discussion possible.

Thank you very much.

Maria Rybakova: Thank you. This is the best assessment. Thank you very much, Mr President.

Have a safe flight everyone, at least those who are leaving today.

SCO Heads of State Council Meeting

2025-09-04T12:06:47+04:00

Vladimir Putin took part in the SCO Heads of State Council Meeting.

Following the meeting, several documents were signed and adopted, including the Tianjin Declaration and the Statement on the 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II and the Establishment of the United Nations.

On the sidelines of the summit, Vladimir Putin had talks with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian. The President of Russia also held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, and Prime Minister of Nepal Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli.

Vladimir Putin also briefly spoke with Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

* * *

Address by the President of Russia at the SCO Heads of State Council Meeting

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: President Xi Jinping, friends,

First of all, I would like to join my colleagues in commending the excellent work carried out by China during its chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

This year holds special significance for all our nations. On May 9, Moscow hosted celebrations marking the anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the defeat of Nazi Germany. The day after tomorrow, large-scale events will take place in Beijing to commemorate the victory over Japanese militarism and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The defeat of Nazism and militarism was made possible through the unity of peoples across many countries. Out of the outcome of World War II came the United Nations, which is also celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.

The UN Charter enshrined fundamental principles: the primacy of international law, the right of nations to self-determination, sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, and respect for the independence and national interests of every state. These principles remain valid and unshakable to this day.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is also built on these very principles. It brings together like-minded partners committed to shaping a just, multipolar world order. For this meeting of the Council of Heads of State, a substantial package of documents has been prepared. Chief among them, the Tianjin Declaration reflects the agreed approaches of member states to pressing issues on the global and regional agenda.

I would also highlight the SCO Development Strategy through 2035, which we are adopting today. It defines the main directions of the Organisation’s work in politics, the economy, security and humanitarian issues.

The pace of cooperation within the SCO is truly impressive. For example, last year the average GDP growth of member states exceeded 5 percent, while industrial output rose by 4.6 percent. Mutual trade continues to grow steadily. All these indicators are above the global average. National currencies are being used more and more widely in mutual settlements.

We advocate the issuance of joint bonds by the SCO member states, the establishment of our own payment, settlement and depository infrastructure, and the creation of a bank for joint investment projects. These measures will increase the efficiency of our economic exchanges and protect them from external market fluctuations.

Within the SCO, an extensive and competitive transport infrastructure is steadily taking shape. Road, rail and multimodal cargo traffic is growing. Close customs cooperation has been established, and electronic document flow is being actively introduced.

The energy cooperation strategy until 2030, which we approved last year, is now being implemented in full. The sectoral roadmap we are adopting today builds on that strategy and is aimed at pursuing a coordinated and balanced energy policy across the entire SCO space.

As many colleagues have already noted, links among member states are expanding in science and education, healthcare and environmental protection, as well as in sports and youth exchanges.

The SCO University, which brings together 77 universities from our countries, is operating successfully. Rector forums are held regularly, and dialogue among students, postgraduates and faculty is becoming more active.

Colleagues,

Our Organisation is steadily increasing its influence in addressing pressing international issues. It serves as a powerful driver of global development processes and the establishment of genuine multilateralism.

There is no doubt that the SCO makes a tangible contribution to strengthening an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual trust across the entire Eurasian continent. In doing so, it helps lay the political and socioeconomic foundations for a new system of stability, security and peaceful development in Eurasia – a system that would replace outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic models, take into account the interests of the widest possible range of countries, and be genuinely balanced, thus preventing attempts by some states to ensure their own security at the expense of others.

As many colleagues have already noted, links among member states are expanding in science and education, healthcare and environmental protection, as well as in sports and youth exchanges.

Colleagues,

Taking this opportunity, I would like to say that Russia adheres to the same approaches with regard to the crisis around Ukraine. Let me remind you that this crisis did not arise from Russia attacking Ukraine, but from a coup d’etat in Ukraine, supported and provoked by the West, followed by attempts to use military force to suppress the regions and people of Ukraine who rejected and did not accept that coup.

The second reason for the crisis lies in the West’s constant efforts to draw Ukraine into NATO, which, as we have repeatedly and consistently stressed over many years, represents a direct threat to Russia’s security.

It is worth recalling that as a result of the 2014 coup in Ukraine, the country’s political leadership that opposed NATO membership was removed from power.

In this context, we highly value the efforts and proposals of China, India and other strategic partners aimed at facilitating a settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.

I would note that the understandings reached at the recent Russian-US summit in Alaska, I hope, are also moving in this direction, paving the way towards peace in Ukraine.

During the bilateral meetings scheduled for today and tomorrow, I will, of course, provide colleagues with more detailed information on the results of the talks in Alaska.

In fact, yesterday at the luncheon, our hosts kindly arranged for participants in the SCO meetings, President Xi Jinping and I already discussed this issue. I briefed him in detail on the agreements reached during my talks with the President of the United States.

Naturally, for a Ukrainian settlement to be sustainable and lasting, the root causes of the crisis that I have just mentioned, and have spoken about many times before, must be addressed, and a fair balance in the sphere of security must be restored.

Of course, one of the SCO’s priority tasks is to maintain stability both within member states and along their external borders.

Russia supports the draft programme for countering extremism until 2030 prepared for our meeting, and is ready to contribute to its implementation.

We also attach great importance to the agreements being signed today on establishing a universal SCO centre in Tashkent to respond to the entire range of contemporary challenges and threats, and on opening a dedicated anti-drug centre in Dushanbe. We expect these centres to begin their work in the very near future.

In conclusion, I would like to thank our Chinese friends for hosting such a productive meeting of the SCO heads of state. I am confident that the implementation of the agreements reached here in Tianjin will be thoroughly considered at the SCO Heads of Government Council Meeting, which, as agreed, will take place in November in Moscow. Dear friends, we will be delighted to welcome delegations from all your countries.

Naturally, I wish every success to President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov and our Kyrgyz colleagues, who will take over the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation following this summit.

Thank you for your attention.

Trip to St Petersburg

2025-04-29T21:49:33+04:00

In St Petersburg, Vladimir Putin attended a meeting of the Council of Legislators and held several working meetings: with State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko and the city's Governor Alexander Beglov.

Trip to Murmansk. The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue international forum

2025-03-29T13:43:06+04:00

At the beginning of his working trip to Murmansk, Vladimir Putin visited the Defenders of the Arctic memorial. The President laid flowers at the monument to the Defenders of the Soviet Arctic during the Great Patriotic War.

The President chaired a meeting on the development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and the Arctic Transport Corridor. Vladimir Putin was also shown master plans for backbone communities in the Russian Arctic Zone.

The President addressed the plenary session of the 6^th International Arctic Forum, The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue, and had a working meeting with Murmansk Region Governor Andrei Chibis.

During his visit to Atomflot, Vladimir Putin took part, via videoconference, in the official ceremony to launch the new nuclear-powered submarine Perm. He inspected the Arkhangelsk nuclear-powered cruiser submarine and spoke with its crew.

Additionally, the President visited the Atomflot Maritime Operations Centre and spoke with participants in the Icebreakers of Knowledge, a Rosatom programme for children’s research and educational expeditions to the North Pole.

Also, Vladimir Putin took part, via videoconference, in a ceremony to launch the coal shipment operations from the Lavna transshipment terminal.

Vladimir Putin visited Arkhangelsk nuclear-powered cruiser submarine

2025-03-28T21:27:26+04:00

The President toured the cruiser’s control centre, the crew quarters and weapons storage facilities, and also spoke with the crew members.

Presidential Aide Alexei Dyumin and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Alexander Moiseyev accompanied Vladimir Putin aboard the cruiser, while the submarine commander, Alexander Gladkov, provided details.

The Arkhangelsk nuclear-powered cruiser submarine is a Project 885M Yasen-M ship, the latest fourth-generation multipurpose nuclear-powered submarine capable of carrying any sea-launched missiles and effectively hitting targets both at sea and on land.

The Arkhangelsk joined the Russian Navy on December 27, 2024. Its crew has recently completed its basic training and is now ready to carry out its duties at sea.

* * *

Meeting with crew members of the Arkhangelsk cruiser submarine

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrades, good evening.

I am glad to see you all. It is a pleasure for me to once again visit a missile cruiser like this, or any missile ship. This is my first time on a missile-carrying submarine of this kind. I have visited other submarines, as you probably know, and taken part in their exercises. But your submarine is special since it is our latest model.

You see, we launched its construction in 2015, launched it in 2023 and the cruiser was handed over to the Armed Forces and joined the Navy in 2024. This, I must say, is a very solid timeframe for complex units like this one. This is a state-of-the-art vessel.

We saw another submarine of this kind today and took part in its launch. It is quite similar, while adding the capability to carry and launch the Zircon missiles, which is something we can be proud of. After all, to some extent, the Zircon missiles can be viewed as strategic weapons. What range do they have? Is it 1,200?

Remark: There are two versions, and one of them has a slightly bigger range.

Vladimir Putin: I see. Considering how effective, precise and fast this weapon is, it can certainly be considered a strategic system.

We are aware of the role of the Navy. Russia has been a major naval power for centuries, and we will do our utmost to maintain this status, building new naval surface vessels and submarines and improving their performance. They must meet modern requirements while remaining combat-ready and effective in the immediate – in every sense of the word – historical perspective, because these weapons that should serve our country for decades, form the basis of our strategic security.

We will do everything towards this, just as we will do everything necessary to train professionals like you. These are one-of-a-kind men, if I may say so. Their jobs call for a special character and readiness to implement any tasks to ensure national security. You are such people. I have no doubt about that.

The traditions of our Navy were established long ago, and you continue to honour them. There is a special bond in the brotherhood of naval officers, especially in the submarine fleet.

I would like to congratulate you on being appointed to serve on this warship, our most modern vessel armed with the latest equipment and capable of fulfilling a wide range of missions. You know this better than many, but it is an extremely important issue. You can work against surface and submerged targets, as well as stationary ground targets. It is difficult to name the tasks which our missile carriers or similar warships cannot fulfil. They can do anything, and we will continue to improve all their capabilities. I have just now spoken with the commander-in-chief, your commander. Everything must be adjusted to modern and future requirements. We must look to the future.

I am happy to see you. I congratulate you on being appointed to serve here. As I have said when we were outside, I also congratulate all our naval personnel on today’s event, the launch of the Perm, a new submarine of the same class.

If you have any questions, I will be happy to take them. Please.

Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Alexander Moiseyev: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief, allow me to give the floor to the submarine commander.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, certainly.

Submarine commander Alexander Gladkov: I would like to say a few words about our so-called exposition, the four submarines, all named Arkhangelsk.

The first battleship named Arkhangelsk was transferred to the Soviet Navy as part of war reparations in 1944 and remained in service under that name until 1949.

The next warship named Arkhangelsk was the K-525, the leading submarine of Project 949, which remained in the Navy until 1996. After it, the name Arkhangelsk was bestowed on the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine TK-17 Arkhangelsk. You know about it. Our submarine of the Yasen-M class (Project 885M) is the fourth vessel to be named Arkhangelsk.

Mikhail Lakomkin: Mr President,

Commander of the damage control division, Lieutenant-Commander Lakomkin. The Arkhangelsk crew members are proud to be part of the glorious Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Currently, the crew is undergoing combat training and is preparing to perform important missions at sea. Work is progressing according to plan, and I am confident that the crew and our cruiser will be ready to fulfil their mission once it is assigned.

A cruiser of this generation is our source of pride, as few countries in the world are capable of building such a formidable weapon.

Could you please comment on the future prospects and plans for the development of the Russian Navy?

Vladimir Putin: Do not worry. As I said, it is our belief that the Navy is one of the main guarantees of Russia’s state security and global strategic stability, because there is a certain strategic balance between Russia and the United States, and we will treat this balance with the utmost care. We will act in a measured and timely manner.

Historically, Russia has faced certain challenges at all times. Being a land power, with a huge territory, there is still a reason that Russia began shaping its traditions of shipbuilding and the Navy under Peter the Great. In fact, some of them existed even before that, but Peter the Great created a solid foundation to rely on, which was new. We, in turn, will make every effort to preserve this major component of the Russian Armed Forces, and to strengthen it.

We have just witnessed the launch of the fifth Project Yasen-M cruiser. Plans are in place to build five more such ships and three more Borei-A ships. However, our plans for the development of the Armed Forces and the Navy are not limited to this. Other plans call for building surface ships and strategic missile carriers.

I will not go into details now. There are different opinions and different approaches to achieving our ambitious plans. Still, disputes and debates among researchers, designers, the Armed Forces, and various enterprises are part of a positive process aimed at choosing the best, optimal ways to develop the Navy. This is what we need to do.

I will not go into details now, although I am deeply immersed in them. The commander knows – we do not meet as often as we should, but this discussion is ongoing nonetheless, and decisions are also made eventually. This is not just about adjusting our respective stances – these discussions lead to decisions on the development of the Navy. We made long-term, future-oriented decisions, for decades to come – until 2050 and beyond.

In response to my instructions, a strategy for the development of the Navy is currently being drafted, along with a programme for the construction of surface ships and submarines until 2050. You will be part of this work as well.

There was no irony in what I just said. I meant it seriously, because feedback from those who operate the equipment – ships in this case – drives our future development plans. I hope that during your service, if you notice something or have an idea, please share it. We will be glad to hear your practical comments.

Mikhail Lakomkin: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: You are welcome.

Anton Frolov: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,

Communications department commander, Captain III rank Frolov.

Submariners like us have an important mission when it comes to ensuring our national security. That said, we also understand that the main objective right now for all of us and for the country in general is to fulfil the objectives of the special military operation.

Could you share your assessment of the latest developments and how the special military operation has been unfolding?

Vladimir Putin: Of course, I can.

To put it briefly, we are gradually moving towards achieving all the objectives we set for ourselves at the start of the operation. Some would have liked these advances to happen at a quicker pace, but we have gathered steady momentum and have been confidently advancing our positions. But I would like to frame this question in a different way.

What I want to say is that we were not the ones who started or launched hostilities. It all started in the wake of the 2014 coup d’etat in Ukraine. Western countries supported it, and this was how hostilities broke out in southeastern Ukraine.

We tried to resolve these issues by peaceful means for eight years. Taking Crimea and its people, as well as the people of Sevastopol under our wing was something we had to do. And we went to great lengths and were unrelenting in our efforts to resolve all matters concerning Donbass and Lugansk by peaceful means.

It turned out, and everyone knows this today, that both the Ukrainian authorities and their Western curators were unfortunately misleading us and trying to trick us. Former leaders who used to stand at the helm of several leading Western nations, including former President of France Hollande and Ms Merkel, the former German Chancellor, stated openly that they needed these Minsk agreements merely to deliver more weapons to the Ukrainian regime and to prepare it for a military confrontation with Russia. However, during these eight years, the people in Donbass, Lugansk and Donetsk faced outright genocide, and I mean real genocide. But the Ukrainian regime’s Western curators preferred to turn a blind eye to these developments, forcing us to try to stop the war which started in 2014 by military means. We were not the ones who started it.

By the way, even when the armed conflict escalated into open confrontation in 2022, we were still offering to settle all the outstanding issues by peaceful means. Moreover, as I have said many times, we reached an agreement with Ukraine during our talks in Istanbul. I must mention that we had an agreement on matters that are being raised all the time these days and are viewed as something impossible. I am referring to de-Nazifying and demilitarising efforts. In fact, we had a deal on these issues, and it was all set forth in the agreement, I mean its draft. Ukraine’s head negotiator initialled a summary of this document. They initialled and signed this document, which means that it was acceptable to them.

We know what happened next. After that, their European curators arrived, including former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who convinced the Ukrainian leadership to keep fighting until there are virtually no Ukrainians left and to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.

He probably forgot that we have crews like the one you are in, and that we have means like this submarine. He probably forgot, or maybe they ignore altogether what the Russian people represent, what they stand for and what they have in their hearts and souls when it comes to defending their Fatherland.

Overall, we can clearly see what is happening right now. Our troops have the strategic initiative along the entire contact line. Only recently, I said that we would squeeze them into a corner, but now we have reason to believe that we are set to finish them off. I think that people in Ukraine need to realise what is going on.

Our Armed Forces have been gathering momentum and acting increasingly effectively. Major General Mikhail Gudkov, who took part in combat action, can tell you about it.

He commands the Pacific Fleet’s 155^th Naval Infantry Brigade. I believe that this is one of the best brigades in our Armed Forces. The Defence Minister and the Chief of the General Staff believe that Major General Gudkov’s achievements must be replicated across our Armed Forces, primarily by the naval infantry units, which have been quite effective in combat. They are actually very good. It would not be an exaggeration to say that these are elite units within the Armed Forces, just like the paratroopers and the special operations units.

Although I should note that earlier today, just before arriving here, I received another report from the Chief of the General Staff. Other units of the Armed Forces have gained significant momentum.

Regarding the marines, I have already stated that they are performing superbly. Since both the Defence Minister and the Chief of the General Staff believe that your experience should be replicated across other units, I have decided to transfer you to a new position, elevating your level of responsibility. You are hereby appointed Deputy Commander of the Navy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Mikhail Gudkov: Aye, Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

Vladimir Putin: Please, be seated.

Your area of responsibility will include command over all Marine Infantry of the Navy, as well as all missile and artillery coastal forces.

The task is straightforward yet extensive: despite the fact that all marines are demonstrating exemplary performance, these units must be brought to the same level of combat readiness and effectiveness that you have achieved with the 155^th Naval Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet.

Additionally, the General Staff of the Defence Ministry has approved a programme to reorganise the Marine Infantry. We will gradually transition brigades into Marine Infantry divisions. This year, two divisions, including the 155^th Brigade, will be established; next year, two more divisions; and the following year, another division.

This is a major undertaking that requires, first and foremost, the organisation of combat training, informed by your experience in commanding the 155^th Marine Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet during active operations. Consideration must be given to structural changes as brigades transition into divisions, as well as to weaponry, communications systems, and other matters. In essence, this constitutes a substantial endeavour.

I will shortly outline further immediate steps. The Commander has endorsed this proposal, and I am confident that you will succeed. I wish you good luck.

As regards the situation along the line of contact, let me reiterate, emphasise: across the entire frontline, the strategic initiative lies unequivocally with the Russian Armed Forces.

The Lugansk People’s Republic has been 99 percent liberated, while the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions stand at over 70 percent. Our forces, our troops, are advancing daily, liberating territory after territory, area after area.

Ivan Domnin: Comrade Supreme Commander-in-Chief,

Petty Officer II class Ivan Domnin. Today, the entire world’s attention is focused on the negotiations between Russia and the United States. Unexpectedly, we have begun dialogue and rapprochement with our main rival. If possible, I would like to hear first-hand about the progress and the outcomes of these talks.

Vladimir Putin: Do not concern yourself with this; simply carry out your service and fulfil your duty. (Laughter.)

That was a joke. I understand that everyone in the world and in our country is closely following these developments. In this regard, I would like to state – first and foremost – that, in my view, the newly elected President of the United States sincerely wishes to end this conflict for a number of reasons – I will not list them now, as they are numerous. But in my opinion, this aspiration is genuine.

It is clear that the conflict I have just mentioned and briefly characterised in terms of recent developments, remains complex and requires thorough discussion and consideration.

We stand for resolving all these issues by peaceful means, as I have just stated, reinforcing the measures we have taken from the very beginning – first, second, and third.

Therefore, we advocate resolving these issues through peaceful means, but with the elimination of the root causes that have led to the current situation. We must undoubtedly ensure Russia’s security from the long-term historical perspective. Any step taken to achieve this objective will be welcomed by us, and we will work with any partners who strive towards this goal. This includes not only the United States but also the People’s Republic of China, India, Brazil, South Africa, all BRICS nations, and many others, such as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, with which we have a signed treaty. Article 4 of this treaty outlines in detail our mutual obligations for support. Cooperation with this country is also progressing in both military-technical and defence spheres.

We are prepared to work with Europe as well, despite their inconsistent behaviour and constant attempts to lead us up the garden path. Nevertheless, we have grown accustomed to this. I trust we will avoid making mistakes rooted in excessive trust towards our so-called partners.

But in general, they have a problem over there, which is never highlighted, just mentioned in passing. I am highlighting it. What is it? Ultranationalists have had considerable influence in Ukraine from the start, in fact, since the collapse of the Soviet Union. These people hold openly neo-Nazi views, and they even use the term in Ukraine, so we were not the ones who invented it. Curiously, few people mention this now, either.

In 2017, the United States Congress added a provision to the government spending bill that prohibited financing or having any relations with units like the Azov militia unit. An American lawmaker directly described that paramilitary group as terrorist and anti-Semitic.

Moreover, although the amendment was not supported by the Senate at that time, in a year or two, its sponsors, including the oldest member of the US Congress, supported that legislation, and it was adopted by Congress. The US Congress recognised Azov as a terrorist, anti-Semitic, and neo-Nazi organisation.

Has anything changed since then? No. Essentially, Azov has not changed. It has remained the same. However, in 2022, the State Department decided that US military aid could go to that controversial unit because it had been integrated into the Armed Forces of Ukraine – apparently, the bill allowed this interpretation. The fact that it was integrated into the official armed forces changed nothing. Their views and actions remained the same as they were at the start.

If anything, it has become worse, because now they plan to strengthen these units, including Azov, and elevate them to divisions. This means that such people now have even more weapons at their disposal. They have more supporters, people they have persuaded to fight for them by implanting their views.

What happens next? As a result, the current civil authorities in Ukraine have no legitimacy in accordance with the country’s constitution. Ukraine has held no presidential election, while according to the constitution, all key officials are to be appointed by the president, including regional government bodies, governors and so on. So, if the president is illegitimate, so are all the others.

So, under these circumstances of de facto illegitimacy, neo-Nazi formations receive additional weapons and recruit new personnel. What does this lead to, what could it lead to? It results in de facto power being in their hands. This, in turn, means that it is already unclear with whom to sign documents and what effect such documents might carry, for tomorrow new leaders may come to power through elections and declare: “We do not know who signed those papers, so goodbye.”

The issue is not just this uncertainty; it is that these neo-Nazi formations, such as Azov, among others, are effectively beginning to run the country. This raises the question: how is it possible to conduct negotiations with them?

In such situations, international practice follows a well-established path. Within the framework of the United Nations peacekeeping operations, there have been several cases of what is termed external governance or temporary administration. This occurred in East Timor, I believe in 1999, in parts of the former Yugoslavia, and in New Guinea. In short, such precedents exist.

In principle, it would indeed be possible to discuss, under UN auspices with the United States and even European countries – and certainly with our partners and allies – the possibility of establishing a temporary administration in Ukraine. To what end? To conduct democratic elections, to bring to power a competent government that enjoys public trust, and only then to begin negotiations on a peace treaty and sign legitimate agreements that would be recognised worldwide as consistent and reliable.

This is just one option; I do not claim that others do not exist. They certainly do. At present, there is no opportunity – and perhaps no possibility – to lay out every detail, as the situation is evolving rapidly. But this remains a viable option, and such precedents exist within UN practice, as I have already noted.

Ultimately, we advocate for the resolution of all conflicts, including this one, through peaceful means. But not at our expense.

Launch of the Perm nuclear-powered submarine

2025-03-28T17:03:57+04:00

During his visit to Atomflot, Vladimir Putin took part, via videoconference, in the official ceremony to launch the new nuclear-powered submarine Perm.

The Perm is a fourth-generation multipurpose nuclear-powered, the sixth in a series of Project 885/885M Yasen-class submarines being constructed at Sevmash.

The Perm will become the first Project 885M nuclear-powered submarine to carry Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles.

* * *

Speech at the ceremony to launch the Perm nuclear-powered submarine

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrades,

I would like to congratulate Russia’s sailors and shipbuilders on this landmark event. Today, the Permnuclear-powered multipurpose submarine is being launched at the legendary Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk.

We continue with the serial production of modern missile submarines, and this is already the fifth Project Yasen-M nuclear-powered submarine. Next year, it is expected to join the Navy to embark on combat missions.

I want to thank the staff of the Malakhit Design Bureau, Sevmash shipbuilders and the teams at all affiliated enterprises for successfully completing their assignments and for their conscientious and high-quality work.

I would like to emphasise that Project Yasen-M missile submarines feature state-of-the-art navigation and communications systems, as well as advanced sonars. They also carry high-precision weapons and robotic systems. The Perm has become the first multipurpose submarine to carry Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles.

We have and will continue to strengthen the Navy, including its strategic component, while steadily increasing the pace and scale of construction for both surface warships and submarines across various projects, equipping them with the latest weapons, technology and communications systems.

These submarines and warships will enhance the power of our fleets, strengthen the security of Russia’s maritime borders and safeguard the Northern Sea Route. They will help uphold Russia’s national interests in various parts of the World Ocean, including the Arctic zone, which is gaining tremendous economic, logistical and transport significance amid growing global competition. We will continue to do everything in our power to reliably defend Russia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and to enhance its status as a leading maritime power.

I would like to congratulate you once again on this major, historic event. I wish the crew every success in serving Russia and our nation.

Thank you.

Expanded meeting of the BRICS Summit

2024-10-25T20:44:06+04:00

President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (via videoconference), President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan participated in the expanded meeting of the BRICS Summit.

In addition, the meeting was attended by Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Luiz Iecker Vieira, President of the New Development Bank Dilma Rousseff, Chairman of the BRICS Business Council, President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sergei Katyrin, Chairperson of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Global Rus Trade Anna Nesterova, and Chairman of the BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism, Chairman of the VEB.RF State Development Corporation Igor Shuvalov.

On the Russian side, the event was also attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, Special Presidential Representative for Financial and Economic Cooperation with BRICS States and Interaction with the New Development Bank Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Aide to the President Yury Ushakov, Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov, Minister of Agriculture Oksana Lut, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov, Minister of Transport Roman Starovoit, Governor of the Central Bank Elvira Nabiullina, and Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues,

Heads of State,

Ladies and Gentlemen, friends,

We continue our work in an expanded format, and before we do that, we need to approve the agenda. All of you are aware of its items. Does anyone have any comments, suggestions or amendments in this regard? None? Then we shall assume the agenda has been approved. Thank you.

If you have no objections, I will open the meeting, or rather, continue our work.

We will review a few current aspects of BRICS activities, primarily in the economic and humanitarian areas, and hear reports from the heads of relevant BRICS bodies – President of the New Development Bank Dilma Rousseff, Chairman of the Business Council Sergei Katyrin, Chairman of the Interbank Cooperation Mechanism Igor Shuvalov, and Chairperson of the Women’s Business Alliance Anna Nesterova.

As we pointed out during our restricted-format meeting, global trade and the global economy in general are undergoing substantial changes. On the positive side, the centre of business activity is gradually shifting towards developing markets. A multipolar model is evolving, engendering a new wave of growth, primarily in the Global South and East countries, as well as in BRICS countries, of course.

However, there is still considerable crisis potential, not only due to rising geopolitical tensions but also because of the continuing growth of the debt burden in industrialised countries and the expanding practice of unilateral sanctions, protectionism and unfair competition. A direct result of this is the fragmentation of international trade and the market of foreign direct investments, especially in developing countries.

The raw materials prices volatility is high, with individual and corporate revenues declining in many countries due to rising inflation.

The implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is stalling, with the least developed countries suffering the most from global economic instability, above all food and energy inflation.

As for the BRICS economies, they generally demonstrate sufficient stability, thanks to the responsible macroeconomic, monetary and financial policies of our governments. The majority of our countries expect to report outperforming growth rates. In particular, tentative estimates put average growth in the BRICS economies at 3.8 percent in 2024–2025, while global GDP is estimated to increase by 3.2–3.3 percent in the same period.

The share of BRICS countries in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) will reach 36.7 percent in 2024, which is larger than the share of the G7 countries, which was 30 percent in 2023 and will only grow slightly in 2024.

It appears that a trend to retain BRICS’ leading positions in the global economy will be consolidated, primarily due to such objective factors as population growth, the accumulation of capital, urbanisation and greater labour productivity, bolstered by technological innovations.

To fully realise the potential of our growing economies and take advantage of the new wave of global economic growth, our countries need to strengthen cooperation in areas such as technology, education, efficient resource development, trade and logistics, finance and insurance. Additionally, we must significantly increase the scale of investments.

In this connection, we suggest establishing a new BRICS investment platform that would become a powerful tool for supporting our national economies and provide countries of the Global South and East with financial resources.

I would like to note that, this year, BRICS has managed to coordinate multiple initiatives aiming to accomplish critically important common objectives.

For example, this includes efforts to make supply and VAT chains more resilient, to counter protectionism, to expand e-commerce and to establish contacts between special economic zones.

We believe that launching a special mechanism for consultations between BRICS countries on issues related to the World Trade Organisation will help us chart a common position on formulating more equitable rules of the game in the global economy and overhauling the international financial system.

It is necessary to continue jointly promoting well-balanced approaches to issues linked with the global economy’s transition to low-emission development models and to counter attempts to use the climate agenda to oust rivals from the market. This is particularly true of emerging markets. The BRICS Contact Group for Climate and Sustainable Development is actively addressing these issues. We believe that BRICS’ initiatives on partnership regarding carbon markets and the climate research platform are highly promising.

BRICS countries are ramping up interaction in an effort to expand barrier-free e-commerce. The dynamic growth of online sales has increased the number of commercial disputes that need to be resolved promptly and fairly.

Russia’s chairmanship proposed sharing information about practices for launching online services to resolve e-commerce disputes with an eye towards creating joint framework procedures for pre-trial dispute resolution. I would also like to remind everyone about our initiatives to establish a BRICS Investment Arbitration Centre and to develop a convention on settling investment disputes, which will improve the protection of mutual investments.

The BRICS space is home to over 2,500 special economic areas. We believe it is important to establish direct links between management teams of these territories with preferential and easy-term regulations in order for them to exchange best practices on matters such as building logistics hubs, localising the industrial manufacturing, and creating favourable global competitive environment for investors.

Several BRICS countries are among the world’s largest producers of grains, leguminous crops, and oilseeds. In this regard, we proposed establishing a BRICS Grain Exchange, which would help discover fair and predictable prices for products and raw materials, since the latter have a special role to play in ensuring food security.

Once implemented, this initiative would help protect national markets from adverse external interference, speculation, and attempts to create artificial food shortages. Over time, we could also consider transforming the Grain Exchange into a fully-operational commodity exchange.

The contribution of BRICS countries to ensuring global energy security is undeniable. The association includes key energy producers and consumers. The joint energy research platform has been bringing good results as well.

Russia also advocates expanding cooperation in subsoil use. In July, the first meeting of the BRICS Geological Platform, which provided a venue for an expanded sharing of experience in mineral exploration and mining, took place in Moscow.

We believe it is quite practicable to create a separate BRICS platform for precious metals and diamonds, as this market is greatly overregulated by trade barriers in circumvention of the universal Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.

The BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre has built a positive track record. We believe that we must continue working on this agenda, including by launching an interstate platform for promoting fair competition.

In September, Moscow hosted a meeting of BRICS Tax Administration Heads and Experts. It was quite a success. Our colleagues discussed important proposals dealing with creating a website to promote cooperation within BRICS on tax-related matters, as well as an online platform for digitising tax services. Russia suggested establishing a permanent secretariat within BRICS on taxes which would operate on a rotational basis.

Efforts to enhance transport connectivity between our countries deserve special attention, since they offer us additional opportunities for expanding and diversifying mutual trade. This year, we started a dialogue on this topic within BRICS. By establishing subgroups on transport and logistics within the Business Council, we made sure that this dialogue continues on a regular basis.

We are also discussing future projects, such as creating a permanent logistics platform within BRICS, reviewing transport routes, creating an online communications platform for the transport sector, and establishing a reinsurance pool.

Having hosted a meeting of healthcare ministers in October, we have achieved meaningful progress in promoting BRICS cooperation in this sector. This meeting defined our long-term vision for healthcare-related matters.

We established a nuclear medicine group, which will promote cooperation in the production of innovative radiological agents and diagnostics. Held in St Petersburg, the first BRICS forum on nuclear medicine was quite useful in this regard.

We have launched an integrated early-warning system for addressing large-scale outbreaks of infectious diseases. Russia has also put forward an initiative to create a BRICS research network on public health so that we can benefit from each other’s best practices for strengthening our national healthcare systems. It is essential that we persist in our efforts to develop and expand the Vaccine Centre and the Tuberculosis Research Network within BRICS.

On a separate note, I would like to mention the publication of the BRICS medical journal’s first edition, which offers a platform for doctors, researchers and medical students to publish their innovative ideas.

BRICS cooperation in science and technology significantly contributes to bridging the global digital divide and advancing artificial intelligence, alongside other emerging technologies.

I would like to underscore Russia's proposal to establish a BRICS alliance in the realm of artificial intelligence. This initiative aims to regulate artificial intelligence technologies, including measures to prevent their unlawful use. In Russia, the business community has adopted a code of ethics in this area, which could be joined by our BRICS partners and other nations.

We welcome the arrangements on common approaches to the formation of a system of scientometric databases, as well as the expansion of cooperation areas and the number of participants in the Network University.

I should also mention the decision to establish BRICS Geographer's Day, which will now be celebrated annually on August 18. A scientific expedition to the nature reserves of the Krasnoyarsk Region and the Republic of Khakassia in Russia has already been scheduled to coincide with this date.

During Russia's chairmanship, we placed special emphasis on the development of contacts in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. The International Film Festival and the BRICS Cultural Festival were successfully held, and the Alliance of Folk Dance and the Association of Film Schools were established.

Large-scale BRICS Sports Games have proved to be a valuable initiative. This year, Kazan hosted the fifth such games across 27 sports. For the first time, they were organised in an open format, with athletes not only from BRICS countries but also from more than 80 other countries participating in the competition. These Games clearly demonstrated that Russia possesses a modern infrastructure base and manpower potential to organise major world-class sporting events. To further develop the BRICS Games, we propose devising a special intergovernmental programme and establishing a coordinating authority to implement projects in the field of physical fitness and sports.

This year, inter-parliamentary dialogue within the framework of the group has significantly intensified. A new format for meetings of chairpersons of legislative committees on international affairs has been established.

Broad prospects are emerging for cooperation among regions, cities, and municipalities. During the thematic forums held in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, and Kazan, discussions were held on the prospects for collaboration in the sphere of sustainable development of municipalities, efficient management of the urban economy and infrastructure, and increasing the accessibility of urban services.

Colleagues,

I thank you for your attention and invite my colleagues to express their views on the above-mentioned outcomes of the work on the economic and humanitarian tracks.

<…>

Vladimir Putin: Once again, I would like to thank you for your substantive contributions and for this insightful and interested discussion.

We had a detailed conversation on setting our priorities in terms of forging a stronger strategic partnership within BRICS and went on to outline our plans for future cooperation. In fact, we share close or convergent positions on most topical global and regional matters.

It is essential that all BRICS partners remain committed to working closely together to create a more democratic, inclusive and multipolar international system. We have a shared understanding of the fact that together we can undertake the most ambitious and large-scale projects and initiatives.

We heard interesting reports from the heads of BRICS financial and business structures. As a founding member of the New Development Bank, Russia wants it to expand its project activities in all the countries which have the status of NDB shareholders and in the countries of the Global South and East.

We support the BRICS Business Council’s proactive efforts to promote cooperation among our major corporations, as well as SMEs in trade, manufacturing, agriculture, energy and transport.

In addition, we believe in the importance of working together within the BRICS intrabank cooperation mechanism as a way to combine our efforts in supporting economic projects dealing with essential social matters, undertaking regional development programmes and building infrastructure. Creating incentives for using national currencies in trade and investment remains high on our agenda.

Of course, we all praised the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, created with the purpose of assisting women in promoting business, facilitating contacts and implementing promising projects.

Overall, very good results have been reported for cooperation between BRICS countries this year. Jointly, we have advanced in all three dimensions – politics and security, the economy and finance, and cultural and humanitarian contacts. We have laid solid groundwork for the future.

The final declaration, which has been prepared for our approval, reflects our common views on the global situation, the results of Russia’s BRICS Chairmanship, and the guidelines for our interaction in the long term.

I would like to ask our colleagues once again if they have any objections or remarks regarding this declaration. If not, I propose we consider the declaration adopted. I would also like to add that we plan to circulate it at the UN as our common document.

It has already been noted that Brazil will assume the BRICS Chairmanship next January. I am confident that Brazil’s chairmanship will ensure continuity in the work of our group while also supplementing our cooperation with interesting new initiatives and ideas. All of us will provide all-round assistance to our Brazilian friends.

In conclusion, I would like to thank you once again for our constructive and fruitful joint work and to declare the expanded meeting of the BRICS Summit closed.

Tomorrow, we will hold a BRICS Plus/Outreach format meeting to discuss the current aspects of our group’s interaction with many other Global Majority countries. This evening, I invite you to a reception, which will also be attended by the delegations that will take part in the joint meeting tomorrow. The time before the reception can be used for bilateral meetings.

I would like to thank you again for our joint work. Thank you very much.

Meeting with graduates of Soviet and Russian universities

2024-06-21T14:18:04+04:00

Vladimir Putin and President of Vietnam To Lam met with graduates of Soviet and Russian universities at the Grand Opera House in Hanoi.

After the meeting, the leaders attended a concert.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends, good afternoon.

I am sincerely happy to meet with graduates of Russian universities and once again find myself among reliable friends of Russia.

I have the warmest and fondest memories of our meeting in the same format in Vietnam in 2001. Just like back then, the group that has gathered here today feels sympathy and love for Russia and its people. Therefore, all the applause directed at me should be directed towards the Russian Federation and its people, who also have very positive feelings towards Vietnam.

All of you have studied the Russian language and the history of our country, so there is no need to rely on translators; today they will not be needed at this meeting. I believe that, since you can speak Russian, you are aware of the current developments in Russia, such as the dynamic progress of our country, our economy, science, and society as a whole. You are familiar with our independent foreign policy, which we highly value.

Of course, it is also important for us because many of you hold high positions in government bodies, as well as social and political organisations in Vietnam, and have achieved succeed in business.

Of course, your success is above all the result of your personal and professional qualities, your diligence and your desire to acquire new knowledge and master your chosen profession; although I hope that your education in Russia has also contributed to your achievements.

It is very important that you share your positive sentiments towards Russia with your families, relatives, children, and friends, who perhaps have never visited Russia, but, I hope, are interested in it. Your contribution to the advancement of Russian-Vietnamese relations, which have been declared as a comprehensive strategic partnership in the Joint Russian-Vietnamese Statement adopted today, is truly invaluable.

I would like to emphasise Russia’s deep admiration for the courage, resilience, and heroism of the Vietnamese people in their struggle for independence. We also hold in high regard the hard work of the Vietnamese people, who have faced significant challenges with honour while defending the independence and freedom of their homeland, as well as preserving their vibrant culture and rich historical heritage.

I believe that preserving historical roots and traditional values is crucial for any nation, people, or country that wishes to endure and maintain its identity. It is a unifying factor for the peoples of our two nations, and we take pride in knowing that our contribution, the Soviet Union’s efforts, played a significant role in Vietnam’s illustrious victories. These victories include the restoration of Vietnam, the development of its economic and defence capabilities, addressing social challenges, and training skilled professionals across various fields.

Ho Chi Minh, a prominent Vietnamese leader and advocate for his people, always prioritised the future of Vietnam, particularly the education and development of its youth. He emphasised the necessity of integrating scientific theories with practical applications, adopting advanced technologies from other countries, and implementing them in Vietnam’s building and development, tailored to the country’s specific conditions. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese engineers, doctors, builders, teachers and economists, who received their education and acquired advanced knowledge and skills first in the Soviet Union and then in Russia, returned to Vietnam. They contributed significantly to their homeland by building cities and roads, providing education and healthcare, establishing new industries and factories, and ensuring the country’s security.

Over 3,000 Vietnamese nationals are currently enrolled in Russian universities, with a total of approximately 75,000 Vietnamese having received education in our country over the years. We are committed to further fostering student exchanges, academic mobility, and the initiation of collaborative educational projects and university programmes in every feasible manner.

I firmly believe that by building upon our strong traditions of friendship and mutual support, we will steadfastly advance the Russian-Vietnamese partnership, establish new ambitious goals, and undoubtedly achieve success.

I want to thank you for your attention and for your interest in Russia, the Russian language, and joint efforts.

Congratulations on your achievements thus far in life, and I am confident that you will continue to accomplish even more for the betterment of your homeland, Vietnam, and for the strengthening of Russian-Vietnamese friendship.

Thank you very much.

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Vladimir Putin and President of Vietnam To Lam’s statements to the media

2024-06-21T12:29:41+04:00

President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam (retranslated): President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, guests, correspondents and journalists.

On behalf of the party, the Vietnamese state and its people, I would like to offer myheartfelt greetings and welcome President Vladimir Putin with the delegation of high-ranking officials from the Russian Federation to Vietnam.

We are delighted to host your state visit to Vietnam which is taking place at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong. This visit is particularly important as it coincides with the 30^th anniversary of the Treaty on the Principles of Friendly Relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation. Preparations for marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between our countries next year are advancing at full speed.

Our countries share traditional bonds of friendship and have forged a comprehensive strategic partnership. We have always been keen to express our deep gratitude for the assistance and support we received from the Russian people in the past, when we were fighting for our independence, as well as at the current stage in the development of our country.

Vietnam follows an independent, self-reliant, peaceful, friendly and multifaceted foreign policy, and has always viewed Russia as one of its priority foreign policy partners. We want to work with Russia to further enhance our traditional friendship which results from the constructive efforts by many generations of our two countries’ leaders and their people.

President Vladimir Putin and I have held talks that were quite a success. We exchanged views in an open and sincere manner on the cooperation between our countries in multiple aspects and also discussed international and regional matters of mutual interest for developing our two countries, as well as promoting peace, cooperation and development across the region. This was the spirit that guided our efforts to agree on the main vectors and principles for further reinforcing the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation.

We also agreed to step up our cooperation based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs. Guided by the core principles of the UN Charter, we will not join any unions or sign treaties with any third countries which could be detrimental to our respective independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will not target any third countries either. Our mission is to promote regional and global peace and cooperation.

Regarding political relations, we agreed to step up our regular contacts and reinforce our political trust. We will step up our contacts at the party level, between our states, governments, parliaments, as well as between our ministries and agencies, while also promoting youth contacts.

Economic cooperation is one of the main pillars of our comprehensive strategic partnership. We agreed on the need to make full use of the Vietnam-EAEU Free Trade Agreement.

We also agreed to work together to overcome the challenges stemming from the international environment. We will expand our trade and bilateral investment, achieve better performance when undertaking cooperation projects in energy and gas in order to create a favourable environment for our businesses and enable them to work together in keeping with international law, including the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea.

We also agreed to explore opportunities for stepping up our cooperation on new energy sources and clean energy, as well as facilitate the green transition and sustainable development. We will also step up our cooperation in the defence and security sectors in order to combine our efforts in countering new and traditional threats to peace in keeping with international law.

We agreed to expand our cooperation in education, research, technology, innovation and vocational training. By the same token, we are committed to having more cooperation in culture, arts, tourism, facilitating people-to-people ties and youth contacts in order to reinforce our mutual trust and friendship. We also agreed to create a favourable environment for the people of Vietnam in Russia and for Russians in Vietnam so that they benefit from stable and comfortable working and living conditions and build a genuine bridge of friendship between our two countries.

As for international and regional matters, we advocate a democratic and transparent world order with the UN Charter serving as its foundation, including the principle of non-use of force and the threat of force and resolving disputes by peaceful means. We also stand for building an inclusive and open trade system with the WTO at its core. We also stand for equal and indivisible security cooperation architecture in the Asia-Pacific Region with ASEAN playing a central role in it, and rooted in international law. We will promote international integration, including within APEC, the G20, the ASEAN Dialogue and the EAEU. We also welcome Russia's cooperation with the Greater Mekong Subregion, which contributes to peace, stability and prosperity.

As for the East Sea (South China Sea), we stand for ensuring the freedom and safety of navigation and air traffic, for resolving all disputes by peaceful means, and against using force or the threat of force. We also advocate carrying out the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties and for adopting a Code of Conduct without delay, in a substantive and effective manner and in keeping with international law.

Comrade President Vladimir Putin, journalists.

Today, we will be adopting a Joint Statement on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the ministries and agencies of our countries. We also signed many cooperation agreements in education, research, justice and sports. This will help us develop the legal framework for stepping up our practical and fruitful ties.

I am certain that our relations will grow even stronger considering the success of President Putin's visit to Vietnam, as well as the commitment by the leaders and the people of our countries, their ministries and agencies to delivering on this vision.

I will now pass the floor to President Putin.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrade To Lam! Friends, ladies and gentlemen.

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, to you, Comrade To Lam, as well as to the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Comrade Pham Minh Chinh, and to all our Vietnamese friends for organising our state visit, for your hospitality, for the warm and cordial welcome we have received. When I say warm, I mean not only the weather outside but also the friendly and genial welcome that the Russian delegation has been given by the people of Hanoi. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincerest greetings and best wishes to them.

I would like to say that Russia places great emphasis on further strengthening the Russian-Vietnamese comprehensive, longstanding and friendly relations, our strategic partnership. Our ties continue to expand and progress in the spirit of equality, mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests.

Our countries are linked by a strong bond of shared history. Next year will mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between Russia and Vietnam. As is widely known, the Soviet Union did a lot to support the young Vietnamese statehood, assisting in the development of economic facilities and infrastructure, helping Vietnam with personnel training and improving the country’s defence capabilities.

Also, a few days ago, it was 30 years since the signing of the Treaty on Foundations of Friendly Relations between the two countries. This underlying document opened up vast opportunities to strengthen and develop the whole range of bilateral ties, giving them a powerful impetus and increasing their dynamics. And today, Comrade President and I have adopted a statement that supports the principles of the Russian-Vietnamese comprehensive strategic partnership and announces new guidelines for our joint work in the future.

I fully agree that the talks that just ended were held in a constructive and businesslike atmosphere. We have had an extensive discussion on the key areas of bilateral cooperation, and touched upon the most pressing international and regional issues.

Naturally, we dedicated considerable time to discussing mutual trade and investment. Last year, bilateral trade increased by 8 percent. The upward trend continued in the first quarter of this year, with Russian-Vietnamese trade growing by more than a third compared to the same period in 2023.

In this context, I would like to mention the tangible benefits our friends have derived from the Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. Enacted in 2016, it has since then vastly promoted growth in Russian-Vietnamese trade through favourable conditions for access of goods and services to each other’s markets, also fostering investment, technology exchange and innovation.

Equally important is that our countries are consistently pursuing the transition to settlements in national currencies and striving to create sustainable channels of cooperation in lending activities and banking. Last year, transactions in Russian rubles and Vietnamese dong accounted for over 40 percent of bilateral trade volume, and in the first quarter of this year, this figure rose to nearly 60 percent.

The joint Vietnamese-Russian Bank plays a crucial role in servicing foreign trade transactions between our countries, successfully operating in the Vietnamese market for nearly 20 years. The bank shows positive growth in its key indicators, consistently offering a broad array of financial and credit services to clients from both Vietnam and Russia.

The strategic point of our bilateral cooperation is the energy sector. Over the decades, the Vietsovpetro joint venture has extracted approximately 250 million tonnes of oil from oil and gas fields in Vietnam. Simultaneously, the Petrovietnam Corporation has been operating in the Nenets Autonomous Area of Russia since 2008, braving the challenging conditions of the Far North to extract around 35 million tonnes of oil.

A Russian-Vietnamese enterprise currently produces gas motor fuel in Vietnam. Additionally, Russian companies are prepared to participate as investors and suppliers in large-scale projects utilising liquefied natural gas.

Russia and Vietnam have excellent opportunities for cooperation in renewable energy. Vietnam’s master plan for developing the nation’s energy grid already includes a joint Russia-Vietnam project for the construction of offshore wind power generation facilities in the province of Binh Thuan with a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts.

I want to note that Russian specialists contributed to the design and construction of energy facilities in Vietnam, which collectively generate more than a third of the country’s current hydropower capacity. Our company, RusHydro, plans to participate in the renovation of hydroelectric power plants along Vietnamese rivers to increase their efficiency.

Another promising area for expanding bilateral cooperation is nuclear energy. Discussions include plans for Rosatom to construct a centre for nuclear science and technology in Vietnam, along with the training of Vietnamese nuclear specialists at specialised universities in Russia.

Cooperation in the industrial sector is making strides. In Da Nang, a joint Russian-Vietnamese enterprise is involved in assembling Gazel cargo and passenger minibuses. Last year, this facility assembled 1,150 units of equipment, including buses and vans, some of which were exported to Laos and the Philippines.

We consider our cooperation on the Vladivostok – Ho Chi Minh City maritime transport corridor, a large-scale infrastructure project, to be highly promising. Since its opening in 2022, this corridor has facilitated regular cargo shipments with container ships operating on a weekly basis.

Our bilateral partnership in agriculture is progressing: mutual supplies of agricultural products are growing, and their range is expanding. Vietnam’s TH Group is building milk processing plants in several Russian regions, including the Kaluga Region and Primorye Territory. The first stage of a cattle-breeding complex for 6,000 dairy cattle began operation in the Moscow Region last year.

Russia-Vietnam cooperation in culture and education is vibrant and strong. Over the past decades, tens of thousands of Vietnamese professionals have received training or upgraded their skills in Russia. Several thousand have earned academic degrees.

Currently, more than 3,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from Vietnam are studying in Russian universities. Speaking of academic exchanges, I must mention the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Centre in Vietnam, where Russian and Vietnamese specialists have been successfully conducting joint research for years. The centre’s projects span highly important areas, such as ecology and nature protection, medicine, combating infectious diseases and epidemics.

It has become a good tradition to hold cross culture days on a regular basis. These events help Russians and Vietnamese to learn more about each other’s history, customs and everyday life. The next Vietnam Culture Days in Russia will be held soon, between July 1 and 7, in Moscow and St Petersburg. Russian and Vietnamese film weeks, art exhibitions, photo displays, music and dance performances have been highly successful in both countries.

Tourism is also on the rise. Many Russians visit Vietnamese resorts, which is noticeably facilitated by direct flights between our two countries. I would like to note that last year, we launched flights to Vietnam from Irkutsk, and this year, regular flights between Moscow and Ho Chi Minh City.

Naturally, we also considered a number of issues on the regional agenda and touched upon current international matters. I would like to emphasise that Russia's and Vietnam's respective stances on these issues are largely in accord or closely aligned. Our countries remain committed to the principles of the rule of international law, sovereignty, and non-interference in countries' domestic affairs. They coordinate their efforts on key international platforms, including the UN, as well as within the Russia-ASEAN dialogue and at summits in East Asia.

During our discussion on the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, we expressed mutual interest in building a strong and reliable security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region based on the principles of the non-use of force and peaceful settlement of disputes, with no room for closed military-political blocs.

In conclusion, I would like to once again thank Comrade President and all our Vietnamese friends for their hospitality and substantive talks. This visit will undoubtedly contribute to the further development of the Russian-Vietnamese partnership across the board.

Thank you for your attention.

Meeting with students and faculty at Harbin Institute of Technology

2024-06-04T09:32:07+04:00

During his state visit to China, Vladimir Putin visited Harbin Institute of Technology and met with Chinese and Russian students and faculty at the university.

The President of Russia was also shown around the institute’s museum and was given information about its history and achievements. The exhibits include archival photographs and documents, as well as new projects for various industries and economic domains.

Harbin Institute of Technology is one of China’s leading providers of higher education in technology, with over 58,000 students, and a major R&D and innovation centre.

The school’s history is closely linked with the life of the Russian diaspora in Northeast China in the early 20th century and the Chinese Eastern Railway. In 1954, Harbin Institute of Technology became one of the first six schools in China that trained engineers, and which employed professors and scientists from the USSR.

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Excerpts from transcript of meeting with the faculty and students at Harbin Institute of Technology

Xiong Sihao (retranslated): Your Excellency, President Putin.

Dear guests, members of the faculty, students, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.

My name is Xiong Sihao and I am the Secretary of the Party Committee of Harbin Institute of Technology.

It is a great honour for me to welcome President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on behalf of the faculty and students of this university.

Along with President Putin and the Russian delegation, representatives of China are attending this event. They are Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui, Vice Governor of the Heilongjiang Province Zhang Qixiang, and President of Harbin Institute of Technology Han Jiecai. Also in attendance are representatives, members of the faculty and students of Harbin Institute of Technology. Welcome, everybody.

This year, China and Russia mark 75 years of diplomatic relations. We are also launching the Year of Chinese and Russian Culture. Under the strategic leadership of our presidents, our overarching strategic partnership and cooperation maintain a high growth level in this new era.

The President of Russia chose China for his first foreign visit after re-election. This step demonstrates the immense importance President Putin places on the China-Russia strategic partnership, and reflects the deep and enduring friendship between the peoples of China and Russia.

Harbin Institute of Technology is well-known as a cornerstone of China-Russia cooperation in higher education. For more than 70 years, this university has exemplified the strong friendship between our two nations, fostering close ties with leading Russian universities in education, science, technology and other fields. Together, we are working on building a world-class university, and continuing to write a new chapter of friendship between our nations.

Please join me in giving a warm round of applause to President Putin and inviting him to the stage.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, friends.

I am delighted to have this opportunity to visit Harbin Institute of Technology, one of China’s leading R&D and innovation centres, and to meet with its students, faculty and professors.

We have just now learned about its rich history and taken a tour of an excellent exhibition about the institute’s development. As you know, the institute has been inseparably connected with Russia since its establishment over a century ago. Moreover, it was established by Russian professionals as a Russian-Chinese technical college to train personnel for the Chinese Eastern Railway, a major transport route in the Pacific region.

When the grain is planted correctly and given proper care, it will produce good results. A small college set up to train personnel the country needed at that time has grown into a wonderful university, which is rapidly developing and meets all the modern requirements.

Thanks to the efforts of our compatriots, the college was subsequently transformed into the Harbin Sino-Russian School for Industry. As I have learned at the exhibition just now, two years after that, the length of tuition was extended from two to five years, providing a sufficient time for a quality higher education. The school was later reformed as Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), which now offers tuition in a broad range of academic and applied subjects.

It is notable that HIT carefully maintains strong traditions of cooperation with our country and has fruitful partnerships with Russia’s leading scientific and educational institutions, such as the Russian Academy of Sciences and its Far Eastern branch, Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Moscow Aviation Institute, the Far Eastern Federal University, and the Pacific National University.

The HIT Bauman Institute of Technology opened at Harbin Institute of Technology in cooperation with Bauman Moscow State Technical University several years ago. It is a unique bilateral project that gives its participants the opportunity to receive education under generally accepted tuition programmes and teaching methods while splitting their time equally between Russia and the People’s Republic of China.

Another leading Russian school, St Petersburg State University – incidentally, I graduated from it and worked there as an aide to the university’s rector – will open an education centre in partnership with HIT soon. Over 1,500 Russian and Chinese students will study mathematics, physics, chemistry and other natural sciences under excellence programmes at this centre. I have no doubt that it will become a leader in Russian-Chinese science and education cooperation in the near future. These intensive academic exchanges are extremely important, allowing us to combine the best traditions and experience of the Russian and Chinese schools of engineering and to train top class professionals, who are in great demand in the economies of both Russia and China.

During our talks with President Xi Jinping yesterday, we pointed out with satisfaction that our cooperation in research and education is of priority significance for developing the entire range of Russian-Chinese relations, comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction. I would like you to understand that these words – comprehensive partnership, strategic cooperation and interaction – hold immense importance. You can see this from the practical steps we take and the results we achieve.

To date, about 50,000 Chinese citizens are receiving a higher education in Russia. At the same time, 16,000 Russian citizens are studying in China, and this is not the limit. Moreover, the number of our students has decreased during the pandemic because of the mandatory sanitary restrictions. However, I have no doubt that the number of Chinese students in Russia and Russian students in China will continue to grow.

China and Russia have 167 bilateral education programmes and there are 28 institutes with Russian participation in China. Overall, there are 12 Russian-Chinese university associations, which include about 600 institutes. The largest among them is the Association of Sino-Russian Technical Universities, which comprises 40 Russian and 36 Chinese universities, including Harbin Institute of Technology.

It is noteworthy that in 2023, Russian and Chinese consular offices collectively issued a total of 34,000 student visas, which is a twofold increase compared to 2022.

I want to emphasise that all bilateral educational programmes are conducted in both the Russian and Chinese languages, which are undoubtedly challenging to learn. I believe that both the Russian and Chinese students present here are well aware of this.

However, I believe you would also agree that proficiency in a second language always broadens horizons, not only for personal communication but also for career advancement and the pursuit of innovative scientific research. Moreover, the ability to speak any foreign language serves as a gateway to a new world and another culture. It is true that without knowledge of a foreign language one can still read and explore various materials, especially in today’s digital age with the help of the internet and translation tools, but there is a distinct difference. When you speak a language fluently, you gain an insight into the soul of the people who speak it as their own, and that is an entirely different story.

It is notable that active contacts are not only maintained between our universities but also between our scientists, who are doing research at the forefront of technological progress and in widely different fields, such as medicine, biology, innovative materials, space exploration and microelectronics.

In this context, I would like to mention the successful cross years of scientific, technical, and innovative cooperation held between 2020 and 2022. During this period, over a thousand joint studies were conducted with the participation of leading scientific institutions and departments from both Russia and China.

In this context, it is worth noting that Harbin Institute of Technology serves as a key talent pool for the nuclear industry in the People’s Republic of China. Interestingly, its graduates play an active role in the execution of Rosatom projects for building Russian-designed power units at the Tianwan NPP and the Xudapu NPP in China.

The construction of these critical energy facilities is progressing according to schedule. Upon completion, these new nuclear units will significantly bolster China’s energy supply, providing affordable and clean energy to both Chinese enterprises and households.

Moreover, in China, with Russian participation, an experimental fast neutron facility has been built, facilitating joint research projects. Concurrently, the construction of a new demonstration fast reactor is underway. With active support from Chinese partners, a unique NICA accelerator complex is being built in Dubna, near Moscow, based on Russia’s Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. I am confident that experiments conducted at this collider will lead to groundbreaking discoveries and advance scientific and technological progress, benefiting not only our two nations but also, without exaggeration, humanity as a whole.

The short-term agenda for Russian-Chinese applied scientific cooperation includes the implementation of additional groundbreaking mega-science projects that surpass the capacities of any single country in the world. By pooling our expertise, we can undoubtedly achieve remarkable results together.

Significant progress is being made in cutting-edge fields such as the integration of artificial intelligence across various economic sectors, big data processing, and quantum computing. Collaboratively, Russia and China are engaged in initiatives focused on nature conservation, safeguarding biodiversity, and combatting climate change.

The scientific communities of both countries are currently collaborating on technical solutions aimed at significantly reducing carbon emissions. A programme to establish the so-called carbon measurement supersites is underway, with projects already in progress in Russia. Technological solutions for minimising hydrocarbon emissions are being actively tested. Additionally, joint efforts are planned for certifying green electricity, hydrogen, and wind power.

Naturally, Russian and Chinese students and educators are not only engaged in educational and scientific exchanges but also actively participate in bilateral cultural, social, creative, and volunteer initiatives. Each of you, dear friends, is making a tangible contribution to the advancement of friendly and neighbourly relations between Russia and China.

Allow me to extend my sincere wishes for your success, new discoveries, and accomplishments. May you enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career, personal achievements, and contribute to the betterment of your homeland, China, and its people, as well as to the advancement of Russian-Chinese relations and the friendship between our two nations.

Thank you for your attention.

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Vladimir Putin (answering a question on how young people can deepen cultural exchanges between Russia and China to strengthen mutual understanding, solidarity, and resistance to challenges): To achieve results in any activity, you must first love what you do. If you love it, you will focus on every detail, day and night. You will wake up thinking about it and go to sleep thinking about it. This way, you will always be able to find a solution.

In today’s world, especially in science, education and the economy in general, one condition is very important. Without a doubt, it creates a competitive advantage for those striving to achieve their goals. This condition is the ability to work in a team.

When I spoke about Russia-China cooperation, including in education, science and technology, I emphasised that by joining international efforts and working in international teams, you can multiply your chances to achieve success. Young people looking into the future, thinking about it and working for it, can achieve many things together by joining efforts. Russia and China have already made significant progress, and it is very important to young people, regardless of the area, whether it is education, learning, achieving results in research, developing technology or cooperating on other important projects, to follow one rule: instead of thinking about how to defeat someone, think about how to become better. By joining our efforts, we can achieve great results. The future is yours, and I want to wish you success.

We, the heads of state and government agencies, will do everything we can to create these conditions for you.

Good luck.

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Vladimir Putin: By the way, this is not just a Q&A session. Perhaps you have ideas you would like to share about organising the study process or cooperation between our countries and universities. While I may not be able to answer every question as I am not the internet, I will try to offer my opinion on the issues that matter to you.

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Question: Can you explain what measures can be taken to increase the number of Russian students in Chinese universities?

Vladimir Putin: I would like to emphasise the fact that relations between Russia and the People’s Republic of China are developing very rapidly in all areas, which leads to a greater demand for bilingual specialists who can understand each other and work together in corresponding fields.

Russia is actively expanding its network of Chinese language instruction. Currently, about 90,000 people are studying Chinese at schools and universities. At the same time, over 80,000 people are studying Russian in China. This number will continue to increase.

How can we explain this? The explanation is simple: as cooperation between our countries expands, businesses and various fields of activity require professionals with essential knowledge and fluency in corresponding languages. It’s just that the circumstances and our life require the availability of such professionals. Our state will do everything possible to support this process because it is crucial to have specialists, including those fluent in foreign languages, in order to develop strategic areas. Both countries will undoubtedly support this process.

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Question: Russia currently devotes great attention to the development of its Far Eastern regions, while China prioritises the development of its northeastern territories. What are your thoughts on the future of cooperation between these two regions?

Vladimir Putin: Thank you for this question. It allows me to emphasise the importance of various aspects related to the development of Russia’s Far East and China’s northeastern territories. These neighbouring regions share a 3,000-km border. Russia is improving its infrastructure and creating favourable conditions for the development of the Far East. We have introduced a range of incentives for our partners and friends from any country, including China, to encourage them to explore the opportunities and expand business operations in Russia’s Far Eastern region. But first of all, we are talking about our friends and neighbours. This is a natural way to interact and cooperate with those who are our closest neighbours, with whom we have maintained friendly relations for decades.

Yesterday, I spoke to our consul who is working here. He said that a very conducive environment has been created for our cooperation here in China, specifically in Harbin, and importantly, it has to do with everyday work. I assure you that the same holds true for the Russian Far East. It is extremely important to foster such a favourable environment, I would even say it is crucial, on a daily basis, when people like each other, want to interact with each other, when people are drawn to each other and feel trust. This is a vital condition for developing cooperation at the highest level. Russia and China have this, and it is a huge advantage, which sets them apart from all other regions.

As concerns the substantive work we do, we strive to create favourable conditions for business development in the Far East. We have built a network of priority development areas, with tax incentives, customs concessions, a free port of Vladivostok and a whole range of preferential regimes. Here in China, in this province, in Harbin, our long-term friends have been implementing preferential regimes for the development of this province for a long time. And they have been doing this job well. We should pay much attention to what we do, share experience, and adopt each other’s practices to create the best possible conditions.

I believe the Russian Far East has already witnessed positive results. We can see them. For example, the Russian Far East has been able to attract three times more investment than any other Russian territory. This indicates that investors are responding to the proposals we make.

We try to create conditions not only for businesses but also for living – mainly for Russian citizens, of course. We provide housing incentives, primarily available to new families and families with children. We are developing the healthcare system on a fast-track basis, which is another area where we can cooperate.

Currently, we are building a large cultural cluster in Vladivostok that will comprise a world-class opera and ballet theatre, a music school, a dance school, and branches of leading Russian universities, as well as The Hermitage, the Russian Museum and several Moscow museums. I really hope that this cluster will appeal to the entire Asia-Pacific Region – but mostly to our friends and neighbours. One of the reasons why it is important is because young men and women will be able to study culture and art, perform, share experience and best practices, and work in these attractive and important areas.

So, I believe the prospects for our cooperation are quite promising. However, success depends not only on us, the people directly responsible, but on our joint efforts, including the contributions of interested young people like you.

Question: I am a student at the School of Engineering. My name is Zhang Zihan.

When you held talks with Xi Jinping in March last year, you wished our countries new achievements in the fields of aircraft manufacturing, space exploration, trade and the economy. We have excellent facilities for training specialists in space exploration at the HIT, and we maintain close exchanges with Russian lecturers and students.

Do you think universities and research institutes in our countries should continue to develop cooperation in these spheres?

Vladimir Putin: I am absolutely certain about it.

But first, I would like to congratulate you as a professional in this field and the leadership of your university on creating such a powerful cluster for training professionals in space exploration and aircraft manufacturing. Much has been achieved in these spheres. However, I would like to offer the best and warmest congratulations to the leaders of your country and your Communist Party for focusing the country’s attention on this crucial sphere of development and for achieving notable or even remarkable results in space exploration. China has done a great deal in this sphere. I am not going to enumerate all your achievements here, which include the lunar exploration programme and a national space station in low Earth orbit.

There are many good and promising spheres of cooperation. Russia has good competencies as well. Russia largely was the leader in space exploration, and it has kept its leadership in some fields. The field we can currently be proud of, where we have kept undivided leadership, is the creation of engines for spacecraft, including the use of nuclear technologies in deep space exploration. There are also other things we are proud of, which we will certainly continue to develop.

All these programmes are capital-intensive, including deep-space and lunar exploration, where we have common plans with our Chinese friends. Our work in all these fields will certainly require the training of professionals, whom both our countries need and who would be able to work in joint teams, as I mentioned at the beginning of this meeting. In other words, our opportunities for cooperation in space exploration are as infinite as space itself.

As for aviation, there are also interesting areas to explore. Although they are not developing as fast as I would like, the work on a wide-bodies jet is, in my opinion, one of interesting and, most importantly, necessary efforts.

Of course, we need to cooperate with the entire world, primarily with entities that achieve the best results in specific areas. Unfortunately, the structure of today’s world often leads to unfair competition.

For example, the Americans recently imposed sanctions on Chinese electric vehicles, specifically electric cars. Why? What is the purpose? Because Chinese cars have become better – that is the only reason. This is an example of unfair competition.

The same applies to aviation. Russia has encountered similar restrictions. However, there is a flip side to the coin. It is not ideal, that we have faced these difficulties but it is encouraging because it pushes us to intensify our work in this area. Furthermore, given that China also faces similar challenges, more or less, we can see that this is a reality in the modern world. Therefore, we need to have our own competencies in key areas of development. This includes being able to produce high-tech items, particularly aviation products, which are indispensable for our country.

Another promising area is helicopter engineering. Some time ago, our Chinese friends suggested working together on a heavy helicopter. Our progress in this area is quite good. Hopefully, we can collaborate to create a high-quality chopper based on our heavy helicopter.

There are also other promising areas that we must work on together. And we will do it.

I wish you success and hope that you will also join this work. This applies to everyone in this hall who is engaged in this sphere.

<…>

Question: I am a student at the Institute of Space Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology.

You have been to China many times. Could you please tell us, what is your favourite Chinese food? I can also recommend some Heilongjiang dishes. I am sure that you can also recommend some Russian dishes.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: It is good that someone who works in space thinks about food. Our poet Pushkin once said: One can be a man of action and mind the beauty of one’s nails. This is relevant to this situation.

In fact, this is not a trivial question, because any ethnic or national cuisine is a part of its people’s culture. There are not many truly great world cuisines, but Chinese cuisine is certainly one of them.

What is my favourite dish? I can only mention what I know well, but it is known all over the world; I am ashamed to say that I cannot name any other dishes. Everyone knows Peking duck, which is also very popular in Russia.

For example, yesterday my friend, the President of China, treated me to Peking duck. There were two pieces. At first, I thought I would only eat one piece. But, as you can understand, I could not resist and ended up eating the second one as well. It was too delicious.

By the way, Chinese and Russian cuisines are very different, but there is one thing they have in common: various dumplings. Russians also enjoy dumplings and cook them often, just like in China.

You know, this is probably not the most important thing. The most important thing is that both Russians and Chinese are very hospitable. We love having guests, we love our friends, and we always welcome them with pleasure, making sure that they enjoy everything, including the food that is served.

This is a great question. Thank you.

<…>

Question: Mr President, I am an Electronics student at Harbin Institute of Technology, and I am graduating this semester.

I would like to ask you about the opportunities available for us in Russia, I mean for new energy researchers. If I apply in Russia, will I be supported?

Vladimir Putin: You know, employers are hard to please. They would always judge their future employee, especially a young specialist, quite fastidiously, eager to find the right person for the job. That’s why I just told your colleague, another student at Harbin, that we in Russia are trying to establish wide-ranging contacts with potential employees.

Major businesses are currently collaborating with our top universities, selecting their future employees even before they graduate and offering them internships. I don’t know what exactly you are doing but generally our high-tech companies are looking for specialists.

Today, thanks to various circumstances, primarily to the economic policy pursued by the country’s government, unemployment in Russia is at an all-time low. It is below three percent – 2.8–2.9 percent actually, almost non-existent. Why am I saying this? The point is that the labour market is not fully saturated, this is especially true for high-end professionals: Russia needs them. And if you send your CV to some of the companies that are of interest to you, I am sure that you will get an answer. I am ready to help you. Give your CV to your bosses, and we will send it out.

Our companies are also recruiting internationally and, strange as it may seem, despite all this sanctions business, all the geopolitical tensions, people from Europe and North America still come to work for us. And their salaries are often higher than the compensation they were paid in their home countries, again, including North America and Europe. They come and work here.

Of course, your potential employer will want to evaluate your skills and professional growth prospects, but getting an offer is quite possible.

Question (retranslated): I am also from the Space Institute, where I am doing a master’s. You just mentioned that we maintain active cooperation across the board. I would like to ask you about satellite navigation systems, as well as lunar research. Is there a chance to expand cooperation on building space stations?

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Satellite navigation systems are certainly very important, and the demand for this kind of equipment is high throughout the world. Actually, the more technologically advanced a country becomes, the higher is the demand. Personally, I believe soon there will be no industries in the world that could successfully grow without using space technologies.

Navigation is a critical component of any high-tech economy. The good news is that we began to develop a relevant project in good time, I think, and now our GLONASS system is being used quite successfully.

I can tell you that for me, GLONASS is a source of certain pride because an operational satellite navigation system requires a certain number of spacecraft constantly orbiting the Earth to provide permanent global coverage.

Unfortunately, in the past few years, Russia had a problem with putting enough satellites into orbit, and the coverage was never quite complete. As we were ready to launch the next satellite, some of the previous ones had to be decommissioned, and the constellation was deficient again. Finally, that warranted a serious talk with the Government, with the Ministry of Finance, and I asked them: are we going to keep having an insufficient number of satellites in orbit? We need a full-fledged constellation to ensure the system’s operation. Such projects always require budget financing. Fortunately, we reached agreement and created a full-fledged space constellation. This is my first point.

Second, I don’t know how long Chinese satellites remain in orbit, I will have to consult our colleagues, but in Russia, we have significantly extended the in-orbit lifetime of satellites. The system is now functioning steadily. China’s BeiDou is working very well. The two systems complement each other, and we can exchange information. This certainly benefits sea and air transport, motor and railway transport, significantly reducing costs and saving energy in transport and other domains. This work is highly important. There is always room for improvement, too, as signal accuracy and other parameters are of the essence. So we are working on this and will continue to do so.

As for lunar research, once again, we have certain joint plans that include our friends, the Chinese specialists. These are capital-intensive projects, but they are fascinating and have great potential. Perhaps you will take part in some of them.

Dmitry Chesnokov: Good afternoon, Mr President.

My name is Dmitry Chesnokov. I am a master's degree student at the College of International Education, Harbin Institute of Technology.

We are aware of the fact that you love sports, including judo, skiing, hockey, and racing. Share with us ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to develop healthy habits in our daily work and everyday life. Also, how can sports influence the path to success and ways of cooperation between two great nations of Russia and China?

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: The first question was, if I understood it correctly, how can we engage in sports?

I am addressing everyone in this audience: we are all lazy people, you and I, we are all lazy. People are lazy by definition. We need to shake off laziness. You get out of bed in the morning and do your morning routine. If you do not have time for it, you need to adjust your schedule to make sure you can put in a certain amount of exercise every day. Do so every single day. When it becomes a habit, you will not be able to live without it. This is a very good way of organising your workday.

In general, the more you do during the day, the more you get accomplished. This is how it works. Do not feel sorry for yourself. As soon as you start feeling sorry for yourself, you start to go downhill across the board, including sports.

Of course, everything should be done in moderation. But you should do it every day. Choose something that you like and enjoy doing it. It is important to enjoy what you are doing.

With regard to cooperation in sports, I think it is crucially important for relations between countries in general and between Russia and China, in particular.

We keep saying that Russia is a great sporting power. But I can assure you with good reason that China is also a great sporting power. We are proud of the fact that we have held major international competitions at the top level. And China does so too and does so brilliantly. Our cooperation expands our capabilities. It is important in high-performance sports, and it is important at the level of physical fitness and mass sports.

I am not sure about the number of people who stay active on a regular basis in China, but we set a goal of having at least 70 percent of the people engage in physical fitness and sports on a regular basis by 2030.

We see the number of people who consistently engage in physical fitness and sport grows every day, but we have not yet reached the 70 percent we are striving for, but we will definitely get there. To do so, the Government needs to create proper conditions for people, create incentives, including, material incentives, create athletic facilities, including basic and, at first glance, primitive athletic grounds which enjoy demand and are conveniently located. We will do this in our country. Without a doubt, we will promote sports jointly with our Chinese friends. After all, you know, sports promote communication, especially among young people.

President Xi Jinping and I often discuss this. Yesterday, we discussed it too. We had a working dinner yesterday in a fairly restricted format, literally four or five people from each side, and talked about sports quite at length. So, sport has been and will always remain the focus of our attention.

Question (retranslated): Mr President, good afternoon.

I am a student at the School of Materials Science and Engineering.

You said that you really love to study. Studying is a very good way of life. Do you still like reading? You have such a busy schedule. Do you have time to read books, fiction? And which writer had the greatest influence on you?

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: I am eager to say that I am so well-educated and I have this stereotype to reading constantly. But I cannot lie: unfortunately, I cannot read as much as I would like. I have books on my nightstand in front of my bed, and I sometimes open them. Actually, when I manage to do it, I do it with pleasure.

As for literature’s impact on personality formation, it is definitely among the main ones. In any case, during my school years, the Soviet system had its advantages as people of my generation were brought up on Russian classics. However, I must honestly say that young people were not ready for some of the works studied at school, at least in the past. Only later, when rereading some books, you begin to perceive them differently and understand the depth of what is written there. This applies to such classics as Tolstoy and even Chekhov, and especially Dostoyevsky.

In fact, it is very important to be able to communicate with intelligent people who expressed their thoughts about life and living in written works. It really shapes a person. So as soon as I have time, especially before going to bed, I try to open a book, leaf it through, and read a little.

Media change. In the past people in Russia wrote on birch bark, and in China they wrote on clay tablets, like we also did at some point. Then they began to write on paper. Now they write in the internet. The media are different. Content is what matters. What matters is not where you got information from but what it contains.

And it is very difficult, especially in today’s world, to select content in a huge information flow. But I must admit that the classics still help: I would say that they create guidelines for choice and cultivate taste. This is very important.

Therefore, no matter how much you want to click on and read something in the internet, the companionship of books still matters.

Question (retranslated): Good afternoon, Mr President.

I am from the School of Energy Science and Engineering. We have joint projects to develop engines, and I went to Moscow to participate in the aircraft engine-related research.

What can the two governments do to support research in these technological areas and to engage in language training to be provided by the partner?

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: You have a very engaging and popular specialty which is exactly what Russia has always been proud of. Engine building was a highly developed industry in Russia and is expanding now. We lost certain competences after the Soviet Union collapsed, because a number of engines were produced in different parts of the Soviet Union, not in Russia, such as marine engines. But we restored all the competencies fairly quickly. Using the professional lingo, we “marinised” everything we needed to, meaning that we created marine engines.

Our aircraft engine building industry is doing quite well. Just a few years ago, we created an aircraft engine, which we had not produced in previous 20, or maybe 25 years. Now, we are making an even more powerful engine for widebody aircraft. Everything is working out well for us. I maintain contacts with the specialists who are involved in this work. There are things we can be proud of. This is something that can be the subject of our cooperation with our Chinese friends. Because if we do end up making a widebody long-range aircraft, which I would very much like to see us do together, this engine would come in handy. In general, it will be in high demand with us as well.

I brought this up, because we need a market. Our friends are fully aware of that. We are ready to provide technological solutions. We need a market. The Chinese market is enormous. If it’s a piece production, it will not make economic sense, but the designs are good. True, we can use this engine not only for civil aviation, not only for Il-96, which I use now, but we can also use it for military and transport aviation. There are many options here. There is a lot to work on. There are good prospects for cooperation.

It is good that you went to Moscow, and I think you should visit Moscow more often, and your colleagues should visit the corresponding research centres in China more often, and success will come. I wish you this kind of success.

I think we should probably wrap it up.

Xiong Sihao: Today Mr President spoke to our faculty and students. Once again, I would like to thank President Putin.

We have prepared a present to express our gratitude to the President for his visit. In the 1950s, more than 70 Soviet specialists came here to help build our university. They played a very important part in developing our university and left many warm memories. We have put together an album with the photos of Soviet specialists who worked and lived here. We would like to present it to President Putin to express our gratitude and good wishes for strong friendship between China and Russia. On behalf of the university, I would like HIT President, Academician Han Jiecai to present it to President Putin.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you for your applause, thank you for the patience you showed while listening to me, and thank you for this engaging and lively conversation.

I would like to wish you all the best in your lives and careers. You are young and ambitious people who are in the process of acquiring the necessary knowledge. I am sure that you will have the chance to use all of it in your career.

The best of luck to you all.

Thank you very much.

Visit to the Church of the Intercession

2024-05-18T13:49:29+04:00

Vladimir Putin visited the Church of the Intercession in Harbin.

It is the only functioning Orthodox church in Harbin.

Opening of the Russia-China EXPO and the Russia-China Forum on Interregional Cooperation

2024-05-18T13:51:44+04:00

Vladimir Putin took part in the opening ceremony of the 8^th Russia-China EXPO and the 4^th Russia-China Forum on Interregional Cooperation together with Vice President of China Han Zheng.

The President of Russia has also toured exhibition stands presented by Russia and China.

The 8^th Russia-China EXPO is taking place in Harbin on May 17–21, 2024. Held since 2014 as an annual exhibition, its venue alternates between the two countries. The EXPO emerged as a major trade and manufacturing platform focusing on expanding and diversifying Russia-China partnerships.

The EXPO has a tradition of holding a large-scale exhibition. In 2024, it presents innovative solutions and joint Russian-Chinese projects in machine engineering, metals, as well as solutions for the energy and IT sectors, manufacturing financing, logistics and other domains. Russia placed a special emphasis at the exhibition on presenting its potential as a tourist destination.

There are 16 regions representing Russia at the EXPO: Moscow, Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Yakutia, Udmurtia, Primorye, Khabarovsk, Kamchatka and Trans-Baikal territories, Chelyabinsk, Sverdlovsk, Amur, Arkhangelsk, Tula, Vladimir and Tver regions.

This year, the 4^th Russia-China Forum on Interregional Cooperation is taking place as part of the EXPO with 28 constituent entities of the Russian Federation taking part in it.

* * *

Remarks at the opening ceremony:

Han Zheng (retranslated): Mr Putin,

Esteemed guests, ladies and gentlemen, friends. Good afternoon!

I am delighted to see you in Harbin and to join you at the opening ceremony of the 8^th Russia-China EXPO. I would like to welcome all the participants and congratulate them on behalf of the Chinese Government on holding this exhibition.

First, I will read out a message from President Xi Jinping.

“I offer you my best greetings on the occasion of the 8^th China-Russia EXPO.

China and Russia have been working together to achieve steady progress in their relations, making one step forward after another, and people in our countries have reaped the fruits of this cooperative effort.

This year, we are marking the 75^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries. Having reached this new milestone, we have new historical opportunities opening up ahead and ever growing potential.

Ever since its founding all those years ago, the China-Russia EXPO has established itself as a major platform for promoting bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

I hope that this platform will enable our business communities to hold meaningful discussions and expand their contacts so that they can work together to promote our mutually beneficial cooperation and provide a new impetus to developing the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia.

I wish the 8^th China-Russia EXPO every success.

President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping. May 17, 2024.”

I will now make a statement on my own behalf.

Yesterday, the heads of our states held talks in Beijing. Together, they outlined a new plan for developing the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia and set new benchmarks for further strengthening our practical cooperation.

Today, President Xi Jinping sent us his message of greetings, and Vladimir Putin is here with us and will deliver his remarks. I believe that our cooperation will yield even more tangible results under the strategic guidance of our heads of state and with the contribution from all stakeholders.

This year, we are marking the 75^th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. Over these years, we have made steady progress in forging deeper ties. The same goes for the way we view our trade and economic cooperation. In 2023, our mutual trade totalled $240 billion. China has been Russia’s biggest trading partner for 14 years now. We must also note that mutual investment has been on the rise, and there has been positive momentum in carrying out strategic projects in energy, chemical industry, aircraft manufacturing, space and transport. We have every reason to affirm that the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Russia serves the interests of both our nations and injects positive momentum into efforts to further expand our ties.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

Over the past 10 years, the China-Russia Expo has become an important venue for establishing interregional ties and business contacts. The main theme of the 8th Expo is Cooperation, Mutual Trust and Opportunities. We are ready to continue promoting business cooperation, acting jointly with our Russian colleagues and based on our leaders’ instructions.

In this connection, I would like to highlight the following priorities.

First, we should bolster the dynamic growth trend in trade, utilising the untapped potential and expanding the range of commodities, trade in services and e-commerce. It would be practical to upgrade cross-border infrastructure, increase the freight-handling capacity of checkpoints and create favourable conditions for the movement of cargo and people.

We are giving priority attention to agriculture. We must increase access to agricultural markets. Food security and quality foods are a common goal for us.

Second, we must revitalise interregional ties. Interregional cooperation is a major driver of our countries’ interaction. It is symbolic that over 40 Chinese and Russian regions are represented here. It is very important for our regions, with their advantages and benefits for promoting trade and investment, to connect with each other.

The China-Russia Years of Culture were officially launched yesterday. We propose coordinating an engaging programme involving many regions and, of course, people.

Third, we must work together in new spheres. Our countries have common goals when it comes to national development and people’s well-being. Therefore, we propose applying our future efforts in new fields, such as smart cities, research and technological innovations, the digital economy, green development and healthcare, in order to enrich our relationship.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

As the saying goes, seek and you shall find. I have no doubt that high-level political and economic ties provide a solid foundation for helping our businesspeople find reliable partners.

Cooperation with Russia has always been a priority for the Heilongjiang Province, which keeps its doors open to its neighbour. I hope that the Expo participants are looking for and will find ways to expand their businesses.

In conclusion, I would like to wish success to the 8th China-Russia Expo.

Thank you.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends, colleagues.

I am delighted to welcome you to the opening ceremony of this major joint exhibition, the 8^th Russia-China EXPO, as well as the 4^th Russia-China Forum on Interregional Cooperation, which is taking place as part of the EXPO.

The fact that Harbin is hosting these two important events is highly symbolic, since Harbin is one of China’s biggest centres for research, education and innovation. This is the first time I am visiting this city, and I have to say that it is very impressive. What a modern, beautiful and vibrant metropolis! At the same time, it has its own unique identity, rich history and traditions.

Since its founding in the late 19^th century, Harbin has been a symbol of the close ties linking Russia and China and their intertwined destinies, and the mutual enrichment of their cultures and traditions.

By the way, as we drove through the city centre, it was immediately apparent that the historical district has a distinct Russian feel. Russian engineers and scientists played a significant role in the city’s economic development at the time, and to building its production base, major plants, factories and infrastructure facilities.

Harbin is a city that commemorates our nations’ brotherhood-in-arms. More than 12,000 Soviet fighters perished in the battles to liberate Northeast China from Japanese invaders. It was Harbin that on September 16, 1945, hosted the joint Victory Parade to commemorate the end of hostilities on the Pacific Front and of World War II. More than 300,000 people took part in the ceremony. It was a joyful celebration of the long-awaited peace and unity of the two peoples.

We have just laid flowers at the memorial to Soviet soldiers and officers. I am extremely grateful to the people of Harbin and the Chinese officials for preserving the memory of our liberators and our shared history of military glory. They have taken great care of our shared historical, spiritual and cultural heritage.

Building upon the glorious traditions of neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation, we can confidently look forward and embark on ambitious projects together, charting and implementing our grandest plans. President Xi Jinping and I discussed in detail the prospects of developing this close and multi-dimensional cooperation during our talks last night.

I believe we can take pride in the products of Russia-China economic links and cooperation.

Just a few years ago, a turnover of $100 billion in bilateral trade was considered a major success. Today, we have exceeded $200 billion. Chinese data shows $240 billion, to be more precise. And we can go even further.

The inseparable partnership between Russia and China directly contributes to the growth of both economies, ensuring our energy security, creating new production facilities and high-paying jobs, and ultimately improving the wealth and quality of life of our citizens.

I am confident that our strategic alliance in the energy sector, which serves as a key pillar of the entire global energy market, will continue to grow stronger. Russia is ready and able to provide the Chinese economy, companies, cities and towns with sustainable, clean and affordable energy, electricity and heating as a reliable and failsafe supplier.

We also have large-scale joint projects in industrial cooperation. Chinese automobile manufacturers are actively entering the Russian market. We are promoting the programme for developing a wide-body long-range aircraft and a heavy-lift civilian helicopter.

I want to stress: not only does Russia welcome Chinese businesses’ interest in localising their production in our country, but we are ready to provide investors from China with economic incentives, support and assistance. They will have access to Russia’s unique technology base and highly qualified personnel.

In a world on the cusp of the next technological revolution, we intend to consistently intensify bilateral cooperation in high technologies and innovations to harness our scientific and research potential. This is essential for us to secure leading positions and bolster the competitiveness of Russia and China in the global economy of tomorrow.

I would like to emphasise the dynamic development of our shared transport infrastructure that closely links our two countries. For example, in 2022, we opened two border bridges over the Amur River – a motor and a rail bridge – which already carry substantial passenger and freight traffic. Reliable and high-speed logistic corridors are crucial for both businesses and individuals in the border regions of Russia and China. We are committed to modernising border checkpoints and reducing the processing time for cargoes and vehicles at the border.

Our two countries are working jointly to diversify bilateral trade by providing incentives to a change in its structure. In particular, we are building up Russian agricultural exports to China. President Xi Jinping and I discussed this in detail yesterday. These agricultural products are distinguished by their high quality and environmental friendliness.

Russia supplies to China growing amounts of fish and other seafoods, as well as grain and pork. In effect, we are nearing the creation of a strategic Russian-Chinese production partnership similar to our close cooperation in energy.

Traditionally, the EXPO exhibition provides an excellent opportunity to promote industry-specific ties. Russia and China have taken turns in hosting this event for a number of years, and each time it attracts the keen attention of a growing number of participants, representatives of business and public circles, and regions of our two countries. The 8^th EXPO, which opens in Harbin today, is no exception in this regard.

Russia is represented at the EXPO by the CEOs of its major companies and industry leaders, such as Rosatom, Rostekh, Russian Railways, and many others. The spectrum of economic sectors represented is extensive, ranging from mineral production and the petrochemical industry to construction, iron-and-steel, the light industry, and digital technologies.

The numerous EXPO events, panel discussions, workshops and roundtables are designed to familiarise the Russian and Chinese participants with both countries’ vast economic potential, help them find new opportunities for commercial partnerships, investment, and technology exchanges. Moreover, these evets facilitate the negotiation of new joint projects and agreements, which, I am sure, will be supported in every way by the governments of Russia and China.

In keeping with our Chinese friends’ wishes, a Made in Russia trade fair has been organised on the EXPO sidelines, whose visitors will be able to taste or purchase high-quality Russian products from more than 1,000 brands.

The highlight of this year’s exhibition is a Russian-Chinese forum on inter-regional cooperation. It is worth noting that now a vast majority of Russian regions maintain ties with their Chinese partners. Similarly, this cooperation involves nearly all provinces and administrative entities on the Chinese side. Over 300 cities and municipalities in both countries have established twin-city relations. Russia’s network of direct contacts and inter-regional agreements on trade and economic cooperation and on cooperation in humanitarian areas with China are more extensive than with any other country in the world.

The forum is attended by delegations from 25 regions of the Russian Federation, 17 of them led by the highest-ranking officials.

Moscow, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, the Tula, Nizhny Novgorod, and Amur regions, and the Khabarovsk Territory will present plans to create new mutually beneficial partnerships to their Chinese colleagues. These Russian regions have thoroughly studied their initiatives in depth and made them industry-specific. The Kaluga Region, for example, intends to promote cooperation in car manufacturing and create a cluster of plants to produce building materials.

It goes without saying that we believe there is great potential in fostering ties between the Russian Far East and Northeastern China.

I would also like to take this opportunity to invite our Chinese friends to the 9^th Eastern Economic Forum, which will be held in Vladivostok in early September. There, we will be able to continue our detailed discussion of opportunities for cooperation with Russia, including in territories of priority socioeconomic development, where convenient preferential regimes are being established for foreign investors.

In conclusion, dear friends, I would like to wish the organisers, participants and guests of the EXPO, this large and important forum, productive work, useful and constructive discussions, and all the best.

Thank you for your attention.

Thank you.

Trip to Krasnodar

2024-03-11T20:55:48+04:00

Ahead of March 8, the President visited the Krasnodar Higher Military Aviation School, named after Hero of the Soviet Union Anatoly Serov, and met with its graduates. The President also toured the personnel training facility. While in one of the classrooms, the President was shown aircraft simulators in action.

After that, President visited the new Sambo Centre in Krasnodar, which is going to be opened soon, and talked with sambo wrestlers from sports schools in the Krasnodar Territory.

Later in the day, the President had a working meeting with Governor of the Krasnodar Territory Veniamin Kondratyev, where the discussion focused on the socioeconomic situation in the region.

Trip to Sochi. Closing ceremony of the World Youth Festival

2024-03-08T14:11:24+04:00

During his working trip, Vladimir Putin met with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi and held a meeting, via videoconference, on the development of southern Russia and the Azov Sea region.

After that, the President spoke at the closing ceremony of the World Youth Festival (WYF) and talked with its participants. In addition, the President had a brief conversation with foreign participants in the festival who are studying in Russia.

Vladimir Putin also met with the Governor of Gagauzia, Evghenia Gutsul, on the sidelines of the WYF.

Trip to Stavropol Territory

2024-03-08T12:54:22+04:00

In the village of Solnechnodolsk, Stavropol Territory, Vladimir Putin visited the Solnechny Dar greenhouse of the ECO-Culture agro-industrial holding, where he was told about the process of cultivating and harvesting tomatoes, before speaking with the company’s employees. Then the head of state took part, via videoconference, in the opening of production enterprises in the Leningrad and Belgorod regions and the Republic of Mordovia. Later, the President met with representatives of Russian agribusiness. Concluding his working trip, Vladimir Putin met with Governor of the Stavropol Territory Vladimir Vladimirov.

Meeting on the progress of the Moscow – St Petersburg high-speed rail project

2024-02-16T15:45:43+04:00

Vladimir Putin arrived in Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Sverdlovsk Region, where he visited the Ural Locomotives plant and held a meeting on the progress of the Moscow – St Petersburg high-speed rail project.

Before the meeting, the President toured the electric train assembly complex of the Ural Locomotives plant, which is part of the Sinara Group. The President was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, Plenipotentiary Presidential Envoy to the Urals Federal District Vladimir Yakushev and Presidential Aide Maxim Oreshkin. Explanations were provided by President of the Sverdlovsk Region Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Dmitry Pumpyansky, President of the Sinara Group Mikhail Khodorovsky and Director General of the Sinara Group Viktor Lesh.

Vladimir Putin was shown the main carriage elements of the new Russian high-seed trains and finished products, in particular, the head carriage of the all-Russian new generation Finist high-speed train (an analogue of Lastochka). The President also saw a model of a future 8-carriage high-speed train. Vladimir Putin also had the opportunity to sit at the wheel of a trolleybuses, the latest municipal vehicle produced by the Sinara – Transport Machines Holding.

The Ural Locomotives plant manufactures equipment for both passenger and freight transportation, such as the Granit and Sinara DC freight locomotives, as well as the new Malakhit mainline electric freight locomotive. The staff of the Ural Locomotives plant is working on a driverless train in collaboration with Russian Railways.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.

Today we will talk about the construction of a high-speed rail line, specifically the start of this project.

This is actually a pilot project, starting with the construction of the Moscow – St Petersburg line at the first stage. This project will become, or rather must become the first stage in the development of high-speed rail transportation in Russia. It represents a fundamentally different level of technology and transport services, offering modern jobs, advanced competencies and new opportunities for our citizens and regions.

I want to add that mere readiness to undertake such highly complicated projects and the ability to successfully implement them are indicators of our advanced technology, science, workforce and industrial potential. This also includes new skills, and I can see that we are close to applying them.

Let me reiterate that the construction of a high-speed railway between Moscow and St Petersburg is just the beginning. In the future, we plan to build similar railways connecting Ryazan, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Adler and the capital of Belarus, Minsk. This is a logical and feasible progression. As for Minsk, we discussed this project with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and he supported it.

The establishment of designated high-speed routes will significantly increase railway capacity and alleviate passenger congestion at airports, contributing to the growth of domestic tourism and businesses.

For quite some time now, we have been discussing and analysing various approaches to the construction of the Moscow – St Petersburg high-speed railway. (Addressing Sberbank Russia CEO German Gref). Isn’t that right, Mr Gref? We have been discussing this for a long time, even when we were still working in St Petersburg.

Today, I would like to hear your proposals on funding sources and mechanisms, as well as proposals regarding the timeframe and stages of work, including conditions for attracting investors and our development institutions.

I would like to stress that all these issues and potential risks must be thoroughly considered and calculated well in advance.

What else deserves our attention?

As we implement the project and develop the necessary infrastructure and rolling stock, it is imperative that we rely on domestic technologies. We have just discussed this with the shareholders and management of the plant during my visit. Overall, they are ready. (Addressing Dmitry Pumpyansky, President of the Sverdlovsk Region Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.) Is that correct, Mr Pumpyansky?

Dmitry Pumpyansky: Yes, Mr President, we are ready.

Vladimir Putin: Good.

Today at Ural Locomotives, I saw the progress they have made over the past few years. Their engineering centre showcased what they have achieved and what they are ready to do in the nearest future. So, the groundwork has been done.

The plant has successfully designed and manufactured state-of-the-art railway equipment, electric locomotives and trains. They use Russian materials and components that are fitted with Russian software.

The plant already has sufficient capacity to set up serial production and manufacture high-speed trains.

I would like to emphasise that this is a highly important technological project for national engineering. This extensive, long-term and technologically complex high-speed rail programme will involve tens, if not hundreds, of teams, research institutes, and contractors across the country. Therefore, we need to start making arrangements for smooth cooperation and building effective production chains right now.

Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate the details of the Moscow-St Petersburg high-speed railway project with the regions that the railway will be crossing. I would like to ask the heads of these regions to take a responsible approach to the tasks under this project. The project will include six regions: the cities of Moscow and St Petersburg, the Leningrad, Novgorod, Tver and Moscow regions. Combined, these regions are home to approximately 30 million people, or 20 percent of Russia’s population.

Overall, I hope that the regional authorities, federal agencies, Russian Railways and other leading companies and businesses will take an active interest and actively participate in our collaborative efforts.

I would like to emphasise once again that following our meeting, we must make concrete decisions that will enable us to start work as soon as possible.

As far as I understand – our colleagues, the Transport Minister and the head of Russian Railways may want to add something – we need to expand the capacity on the Oktyabrskaya Railway anyway, right? This is necessary to ensure smooth cargo transit at the required speed along this important route. This in itself will require considerable funding – about half a trillion. (Addressing Oleg Belozerov, Russian Railways CEO – Chairman of the Executive Board.) Is that correct, Mr Belozerov?

Oleg Belozerov: Yes, Mr President, 580 billion.

Vladimir Putin: Well, that is more than half a trillion rubles. Therefore, what we are talking about here is not a joke or a whim. Developing this segment of the Russian railway network is unavoidable, and it requires a businesslike approach to ensure that this work, this comprehensive project, is executed in the best possible way. We must prioritise the cargo segment, followed by the utilisation of the existing railways and the addition of the high-speed segment.

Mr Savelyev, I would like to invite you to speak first as the Minister of Transport.

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Opening of cancer centres in Russia's regions

2024-02-03T18:46:54+04:00

Vladimir Putin took part in the opening of cancer centres in Tomsk, Ufa and Yakutsk, via videoconference.

The meeting took place at the Tula Regional Oncology Clinic via videoconference. Before the start of the event, the President briefly spoke to the staff of the medical centre.

The oncology centre’s surgery building in Tomsk includes seven operating theatres and an intensive care unit, as well as an outpatient clinic, ultrasound, functional diagnostics, X-ray diagnostics, endoscopy, and clinical and laboratory research departments.

The Centre for Children's Oncology and Hematology in Ufa unites 10 divisions, with a capacity of 92 beds.

The opening of a cancer clinic in Yakutsk with four surgery departments makes it possible to expand the range of high-tech and minimally invasive methods of diagnostics and treatment. The clinic has 180 inpatient beds and 25 day hospital beds.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon,

Today three Russian regions – Tomsk, Ufa and Yakutsk – are opening modern medical centres at the same time. They specialise in the treatment of cancer. This is another step in increased accessibility and efficiency in healthcare, which means maintaining people’s lives and health.

I want to thank everyone involved in building and equipping these centres. This work is ongoing in many regions in the Russian Federation, in fact, across the entire country.

Last week, as you know, I visited the new oncology centre in the Kaliningrad region, and we have just seen the Tula cancer centre, which opened recently, at the end of last year.

And what immediately impressed me was that much of the equipment – and oncology is one of the most complex, high-tech areas of medicine today – was domestically produced, Russian-made. As the chief physician [Dmitry Istomin] noted, the high quality and ease of use give reason to believe that we are moving in the right direction. And – I want to emphasise again, not only here, but also in Kaliningrad, I was told the same thing – the equipment fully meets the most advanced requirements.

I would like to remind you that the launch of a nationwide programme to fight cancer is one of our main goals in healthcare; you and I talked about this in 2018. And this goal – to work intensively in this area – was set in the 2018 Address. At that time, a federal project was set up for this. Significant resources, almost a trillion – over 960 billion rubles up to and including 2024 – are being allocated for its implementation.

One of the most important tasks both under the current federal project and for the future is to improve the efficiency of diagnostics.

And we all understand, even non-specialists in this complicated field realise that it is early detection and the timely start of treatment that makes it possible to cure many types of this disease, to preserve and prolong life, the quality of life.

Much has already been done in this regard. Examinations for the most common types of cancer are included in medical check-up and preventive exam programmes. More than 500 centres for outpatient oncological care have already been opened in the country's regions, where it is possible to undergo the entire range of examinations and, if necessary, outpatient treatment.

Eighteen reference centres have been created and are operating, which at the highest scientific level, help to clarify the diagnosis and find optimal treatment methods. Here too, the chief physician said, I would like to thank the Ministry of Health and the Government, for creating conditions for the constant exchange of experience with other leading cancer centres so that our colleagues in the field can promptly, almost online, consult with their colleagues at other leading medical institutions.

In general, the entire system of oncological care is being modernised. A lot of work is being done to upgrade the logistics base in federal and regional hospitals. Specialised medical organisations and institutions are being built or rebuilt. The system of dispensary monitoring has been improved and modern treatment protocols and standards are being introduced.

I would like to repeat that a lot has been done, and we can see certain favourable trends. The proportion of cancers detected in the early stages has increased over the period of the federal programme, while the mortality rate is decreasing. Yes, these may still be modest figures, but it is an obvious fact, and we need to do everything we can to maintain and increase this trend. I would like to emphasise the positive dynamics in the treatment of children with this serious disease.

But the task before us is, of course, a complex one, or, to be more precise, there are many such tasks. It is important to continue to increase the availability of oncological care, to do everything to ensure that a person can receive a diagnosis, and if it is medically possible, treatment, quickly, efficiently, and preferably in the area where he or she works. Because we understand very well: the faster, the better. And if it involves some kind of relocation, long waits, waiting lists, it can lead to serious consequences.

But, I repeat, on the whole, the overall goal is being resolved, and the money we have allocated is being spent, and is being spent rationally.

I would like to ask the Minister of Health, Mr Mikhail Murashko, to speak, and I give him the floor.

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