Komsomolskaya Pravda: " Vladimir Putin: “Fighting the crisis gives me drive”"
The Russian Prime Minister has gone to China to cement the friendship between the two countries with economic contracts.
Latching on to the locomotive of the world economy, China, and thus getting out of the crisis together, is the dream of many countries. For Russia developing links with the East is critical because China and India could restore demand for our commodities. Vladimir Putin has gone to the Celestial Kingdom to seal the friendship between the two nations with economic contracts.
In his arduous mission, Vladimir Putin drew inspiration from the Assumption Church located on the grounds of the Russian Embassy which was dedicated and reopened yesterday after restoration. The Chinese had withheld permission to reopen the church for a long time. Eventually they agreed but on condition that the bells would ring only seven times a year not to disturb the local residents. However, Putin was greeted with the peeling of bells.
The Prime Minister put up three candles, talked with Bishop Mark of Yegoryevsk and presented the church with the icon of Our Lady of Smolensk.
"The icon is more than a hundred years old and we want to leave it here, in this church," Vladimir Putin said.
"SOME THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BETTER"
In the meantime Chinese journalists were already awaiting the arrival of the Russian Premier. He congratulated all the people of China on the 60th anniversary of the PRC. He recalled that the USSR had recognized the People's Republic of China on the following day and that the friendship between the two countries has continued. The journalists asked Vladimir Putin how he felt working as the Prime Minister and what tasks he was setting for himself.
"When I was still the President I took part in developing the strategy for the country until 2020," the Prime Minister replied. "Now I work in the government and have an opportunity to put this plan into practice. I am very pleased with that. We are currently in a unique situation, we are overcoming the crisis. I am used to grappling with problems of such a scale and intensity. It gives me drive. On the whole I think I am coping and that gives me satisfaction. However, like any living person I feel that some things could have been done still better."
Towards the end of the interview the Chinese journalists showered the Russian Prime Minister with compliments saying that he was popular in the world and never fails to stun people, as for example, when he pilots a plane or submerges to the bottom of a lake.
"You are a very reserved person and you don't like talking about your private life, the journalists complained. "But we represent the most popular Chinese media outlets, perhaps you could tell us a bit more. What do you do in your spare time?"
"I have very little spare time and even when I have it I use it to do more work," Vladimir Putin said. "A person reveals himself in his professional work. But of course one has to do something for one's health and play sports, which I try to do every day. One should seek to know more about the humanities: literature, music. I am very fond of history. I like traveling around the country. China is a very large and interesting country. But, believe me, Russia is no less rich, large and original.
ROUBLE AND YUAN INSTEAD OF DOLLAR AND EURO?
The Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao personally greeted Vladimir Putin in front of the People's Assembly House. Mr Putin watched a mini-parade in his honour.
"You and I are old friends, we have met many times, this time around you are visiting us, Wen Jiabao said. "This is happening at a time when we are jointly dealing with the consequences of the world financial crisis and at a time when we are marking the 60th anniversary of our diplomatic relations."
"Over the past years we have indeed become strategic partners," Putin responded. "Our cooperation has withstood the trial by the world financial and economic crisis."
The heads of government did not just exchange pleasantries and assurances of eternal friendship: while politicians are talking businessmen are striking deals. Already $3.5 billion worth of contracts have been signed at the 4th Russian-Chinese Economic Forum held concurrently with the Putin-Wen Jiabao meeting.
The Chinese will help build cement and brick factories in Russia and will launch the production of energy-saving light bulbs. We will develop iron ore deposits in the Jewish Autonomous Region together with the Chinese.
Vneshekonombank has managed to agree a $500 million loan with the China Development Bank. An equal amount will be lent to VTB by China's Agricultural Bank. A contract for Russian gas supplies to China has been signed.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov also noted that in the midst of a crisis Russia and China were discussing more seriously the proposition of switching to national currencies in their mutual settlements.
"The Central Banks of the two countries are already conducting a dialogue on this issue," Zhukov said. "Of course replacing the dollar and the euro with the rouble and the yuan will be prolonged and gradual.
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BY THE WAY
In an interview with Chinese journalists Vladimir Putin spoke about the so-called "grey custom clearance":
"'Grey custom clearance' is uncontrolled entry of certain goods into the domestic market. It makes it impossible to regulate some industries. What does it lead to? Some enterprises stagnate and are even shut down. People lose their jobs. In the context of the world economic and financial crisis it aggravates the unemployment and labour market problems inside the country. It is a very real problem.
"So in our bilateral economic relations we should work out a uniform approach, uniform rules. They should be understandable to both sides and transparent."
Nigina Beroyeva
