In Vladivostok, a plenary meeting of the Eastern Economic Forum was held, at which Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders of India, Japan, Malaysia and Mongolia spoke.

Large and large-scale exchange

One of the most resonant statements by Putin at the WEF plenary meeting was the statement about the upcoming exchange of prisoners between Moscow and Kiev. According to the Russian leader, the dialogue is at the final stage, and the exchange itself will be "large and large-scale."

“We are approaching the finalization of negotiations that we are conducting, including with the official authorities. So, I think that in the near future it will become known, ”the president said.

Commenting on the upcoming interaction between Moscow and Kiev on this issue, Putin mentioned the Ukrainian prisoners Stanislav Klykh and Nikolai Karpyuk, sentenced to long terms for the murder of Russian soldiers in Chechnya.

“This is a difficult question for us. Of course, we will move in this direction and in the near future, as we agreed with the current official authorities in Ukraine, we will jointly announce the decisions taken, ”RIA Novosti quoted Putin as saying in an interview with the leader of the party“ Opposition Platform - for Life ” Viktor Medvedchuk, held after the plenary session.

Development of the Far East

During the speech, the Russian leader paid special attention to the goals and objectives of the development of the Far East. The President noted that the region should remain safe and stable.

“We are proud that the Far East has become one of the symbols of the openness of the whole country, innovation and determination to remove all kinds of barriers for business, and just human communication,” Putin said.

According to him, such a result would hardly have been possible without strengthening the atmosphere of trust and constructive cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole.

“We are interested in developing these positive trends, so that our common region is safe and stable,” the president said.

According to Putin, conditions have been created for the Far East to enter the path of faster growth, new large-scale projects and construction projects will be launched in the region. At the same time, the head of state emphasized that the economic achievements of the region should be converted into a “social breakthrough,” which can lead to a fundamentally higher quality of life for people.

Speaking about this area of ​​activity, Putin called for youth support and mentioned the launch of a new mortgage program for young families in the Far East. We are talking about a mortgage at 2% per annum, through which it will be possible to finance the purchase of housing in the primary market, as well as the construction of an individual house for owners of the Far Eastern hectare.

In addition, the head of state proposed the creation of a medical cluster in the Far East, which would allow opening branches of foreign clinics in the region. According to the president, such a step will effectively attract foreign specialists and apply methods and medicines that have proven themselves abroad. In addition to this, the president proposed a doubling of payments for teachers and doctors coming to the Far East.

Equilibrium situation

During conversations with participants in the plenary session, Putin touched on a number of other topics relating to the domestic and foreign policies of the Russian Federation.

The Russian leader mentioned the deployment of Mk-41 launchers at the borders of the Russian Federation. Putin noted that the Russian side has repeatedly pointed out the fact that these systems are capable of working not only as part of air defense, but also be used to launch shock missiles.

“The Americans told us all the time that this is not so, but now they have tested this system just from the installation of the Mk-41. That is, it is part of the missile systems. We were right, as, indeed, in many other cases, ”the president said.

He also talked about a conversation with US President Donald Trump, in which the Russian leader suggested that the head of the White House purchase hypersonic weapons from the Russian Federation.

“I told Donald (Trump. - RT ): do you want us to sell you? So in such a way everything will be balanced right away, ”Putin said. He explained that the US side in response reported similar proprietary developments.

“But why spend the money when we have already spent, we can get something from them, not to the detriment of our security, but in order to create a situation of equilibrium?” The Russian president asked.

"The image of a new relationship of cooperation"

In turn, Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, who participated in the meeting, said that the United States did not offer the Japanese side to deploy medium- and short-range missiles. Speaking about the missiles already deployed, Abe noted that this weapon belongs precisely to Japan.

“What is now located in Japan is owned by Japan, it is Japanese property, and it is intended to be protected. For example, it’s technically impossible to launch Tomahawk from this system, ”the head of the Japanese government said.

  • Reuters
  • © Alexander Nemenov / Pool

He mentioned a number of other important issues and paid much attention to Russian-Japanese relations. According to Abe, Moscow and Tokyo can no longer hesitate in concluding a peace treaty.

“Our efforts are steadily creating the image of new cooperation relations between Japan and Russia. Then the next step is the conclusion of a peace treaty, which is our historical mission, ”the prime minister said and urged Putin to“ do everything ”to“ move towards this goal ”and subsequently achieve it.

Recall, Japan makes territorial claims against the islands of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai, which became part of the USSR after the end of World War II. Earlier, Moscow and Tokyo agreed to negotiate on the basis of the 1956 declaration.

Speaking about the future relations between the two countries, Abe quoted a poem by Fedor Tyutchev.

“I want to quote one quatrain known to you:“ You cannot understand Russia with your mind, you cannot measure common arshin, it’s special to become one, you can only trust in Russia, ”the prime minister said to the applause of the audience. “That is the only way you can be together with Russia, it won’t work out differently.”

The Japanese prime minister also spoke about progress in the gradual easing of the visa regime between Japan and Russia. According to him, progress is being made in solving this issue.

“As for the facilitation of the visa system, we are indeed phasing it out. And I see progress that once was not there, ”he said.

The head of the Japanese government separately mentioned the issuance of visas to Russian students. According to him, this mechanism will be simplified so that more and more students from Russia come to Japan. In addition, he spoke about other exemptions in the visa regime.

“Everyone who works in Russian companies, scientific institutions that have anything to do with the eight-point cooperation plan between our countries will be able to get multiple visas for up to five years from this month,” Abe said.

“This kind of partnership is a historic opportunity.”

In turn, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India wants to work “hand in hand” with Russia towards the development of the Far Eastern region. The politician called partnership with the Far East an important opportunity for India.

“India wants to work hand in hand with Russia to develop this fascinating journey and this wonderful vision,” Modi said.

He added that India has made a number of investments in the Russian sphere of energy and natural resources, in particular, in the diamond industry, as well as in oil fields on Sakhalin. According to the Indian Prime Minister, this is "a great example of the use of Indian innovation."

“India is developing very fast, it also has many talents, and a partnership of this kind with the Far East region is a historic opportunity that allows us to say 1 plus 1 equals 11,” the politician said.

Modi said that India will provide a $ 1 billion credit line for the development of the Far East, thus helping the region develop.

“India will provide a $ 1 billion credit line. This is a completely unprecedented measure when we provide such a special credit line to another country,” Modi said.

He also talked about a conversation with Putin regarding the possible joint construction of ships for transporting liquefied gas, oil products and other goods. The parties are looking for joint work directions, Modi said.

“Maybe some ships will be partially built with us, this is the international cooperation in the world that flourishes in this way, partially will be brought to shipyards in India,” the prime minister explained.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad called for increased cooperation with Russia in the field of education and suggested that the Russian Federation create a university in his country with a profile in the aerospace industry.

  • Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
  • RIA News
  • © Alexey Danichev

“There is a proposal to create a university that will focus on the space industry, on engineering surveys. And that would be a very serious contribution to the education system of Malaysia, ”the politician said.

In his opinion, Malaysia is a suitable place to establish such an educational institution.

“If Russia will continue to promote and develop education in this region, especially engineering competencies in the aerospace industry, then, without a doubt, Malaysia is the place where the university should be founded,” he said.

During the meeting, the President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga spoke out. He commented on the words of the event’s moderator, journalist Sergei Brilev, about whether the visit of the Mongolian leader to Washington was connected with the call of the head of the White House Donald Trump to the Russian president.

Recall, on August 1, Trump called Putin and offered help in the fight against forest fires. So, Brilev suggested that Battulga was related to this event. Putin also ironically suggested that it was the Mongol leader who helped organize the communication session. Battulga himself smiled back and nodded.

“During my visit to the USA, I said that we live on the same planet. Siberia is part of this planet. I told him why not call the Russian president and express my condolences and sympathy for this. Siberia is the lungs of our planet, these lungs are on fire, ”said the head of Mongolia.