Russian Pres. Eyeing Creation of Asia-Pacific Energy Supply Network

Tokyo, Nov. 21 (Jiji Press)--Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is eager to establish an energy supply network in the Asia-Pacific region to foster regional energy security cooperation, it was learned Friday.
"As one of the largest oil and gas suppliers in the world, Russia
will promote the creation of such a system of energy supply in the
Asia-Pacific region that would let consumers diversify the geography of
imports, as well as ensure reliable and uninterrupted supplies," the Russian
president says in an essay, whose unofficial English translation version was
given to Jiji Press and another Japanese news company.
Currently, Russia's exports of oil to Asia account for 5 pct of the
total oil exports. But Moscow already has shown intention of expanding the
share of the Asian-bound exports to over 30 pct by 2020.
Medvedev released the paper ahead of Russia's first participation
in an
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit, to be held in the
Peruvian capital of Lima for two days from Saturday.
His pledge of commitment to Asia-Pacific cooperation underlines
Russia's apparent shift of focus to the Asia-Pacific region, away from
Europe and the United States.
After its recent military incursion into Georgia was heavily
criticized by the West and its economy hit hard by the global financial
crisis, Russia has moved to forge closer ties with Asia as a way out of the
current political and diplomatic stalemate.
"We believe that many APEC countries will become leaders in the
post-crisis period and will gain new positions in key markets," Medvedev
said, pointing out that the Asia-Pacific region "will become the locomotive
of sustainable world economic development in the future."
Moscow is also aiming to strengthen ties with Tokyo with Russian
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's expected visit to Japan early next year,
Russian watchers said.