Medvedev calls for bigger Russian role in Asia.

KHABAROVSK, July 2 (Itar-Tass) -- President Dmitry Medvedev said on
Friday Russia has to play a bigger role in Asia and the Pacific Rim and
shall stake on free trade to promote integration.
"Until the end of the year the government has to submit for approval
an action plan to enhance Russian positions in the region. It has to
contain a forecast of long-term development of the Far East with account
of the potential of our eastern neighbors and integration process ongoing
in Asia and the Pacific Rim," Medvedev told a meeting that discussed Far
East development in Khabarovsk.
"Specific attention shall be paid to free trade agreements, as there
are already over 50 of them in Asia and the Pacific Rim. Future economic
community in the region is formed exactly on their basis," the president
said.
Russia has also to play an active role in international organizations
of the region.
"We shall offer our vision of how to build up a polycentric non-bloc
security and cooperation architecture in the region," Medvedev said.
"It is necessary to strengthen the Russian role in organizations of
Asia and the Pacific Rim - APEC, SCO, ASEAN, and BRIC. Russia maintains
solid positions there, however they expect more active actions from us,"
the president said.

.Medvedev lists three guidelines for Far East development.

KHABAROVSK, July 2 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
listed three guidelines for the development of the Far East, which include
mounted economic ties with Asia, focus on high-tech cooperation, and a
bigger Russian role in Asian organizations.
"Firstly, economic interaction of the region and the whole of Russia
with Asia and the Pacific Rim shall reach a new level," he told a
conference in Khabarovsk on Friday.
"Until the end of the year the government has to submit for approval
an action plan to enhance Russian positions in the region. It has to
contain a forecast of long-term development of the Far East with account
of the potential of our eastern regions and integration processes ongoing
in Asia and the Pacific Rim," Medvedev said adding specific attention
shall be paid to free trade agreements.
"Secondly, Russian high-tech specialization is evident on the markets
of Asia and the Pacific Rim," the president said and specified the talk is
about energy, aircraft construction, and space services.
"New multilateral technological cooperation projects are necessary and
it is important to use the experience of neighbors in the creation of a
favorable investment climate and special economic zones."
Russia is a major supplier of hydrocarbons in the Asia. "We have to
develop our energy infrastructure, attract investments into oil refining
and chemistry, into production and transportation of raw materials," the
president said.
"Thirdly, we have to strengthen the Russian role in organizations of
Asia and the Pacific Rim - APEC, SCO, ASEAN, and BRIC. Russia maintains
solid positions there, however they expect more active efforts from us,"
the president said.
"We shall offer our vision of how to build up a polycentric non-bloc
security and cooperation architecture in the region," Medvedev said.
"Integration with Asian and Pacific Rim countries is a major resource
for developing the Far Eastern economy and the whole of Russia," he
stressed.

.Medvedev calls to stop human exodus from Far East.

KHABAROVSK, July 2 (Itar-Tass) -- President Dmitry Medvedev said on
Friday the population of the Russian Far East decreased by a fourth in the
past 20 years and authorities have to stop the dangerous trend.
"We failed to stop the exodus so far. This is the most dangerous trend
which we have to deal with in a permanent regime," he told a meeting in
Khabarovsk devoted to the development of the Far East.
The president said economic crisis affected the Far East. "Industrial
production fell. Unfortunately, every fifth resident has an income less
than subsistence level. Most territories of the region remain subsidized."
"Common effort is necessary to remedy the situation," the president
said adding economic development of the region can be promoted by
cooperation with Asian countries.
"To increase competitiveness of the region and the living standards
the social and economic development strategy up to 2025 is being
implemented. Enhanced ties on the Asian and Pacific Rim guideline offer
major development possibilities," he said.

.Medvedev signs concession agreement amendments into law.

KHABAROVSK, July 2 (Itar-Tass) -- President Dmitry Medvedev said on
Friday he had signed amendments to the law on concession agreements and
called to actively use them.
He specified at a meeting in Khabarovsk that changes concern
concession agreements related to communal utilities, as well as
participation of state-owned and municipal enterprises in such agreements.
The president said technologically related immovable and movable
property can now be the object of concession.
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