WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.464
Mr President, thank you very much for speaking to Bloomberg.

2
00:00:05.464 --> 00:00:11.657
Here in Vladivostok we're on the edge of the Pacific and on the eve 

3
00:00:11.657 --> 00:00:18.215
of the second Eastern Economic forum. What do you hope to achieve at it?

4
00:00:18.215 --> 00:00:22.951
We would like to draw the attention of our partners,

5
00:00:22.951 --> 00:00:30.671
of potential investors to the Russian Far East.

6
00:00:30.671 --> 00:00:35.416
In this sense, the Forum as an event is similar to other 

7
00:00:35.416 --> 00:00:37.830
regional forums of this kind.

8
00:00:37.830 --> 00:00:40.660
Russia hosts a lot of such forums,

9
00:00:40.660 --> 00:00:45.737
including the International Economic Forum in St Petersburg, 

10
00:00:45.737 --> 00:00:48.734
(usually in the beginning of summer)

11
00:00:48.734 --> 00:00:52.147
, as well as the Economic Forum in Sochi.

12
00:00:52.147 --> 00:00:57.723
The Far East is of particular significance for us in terms of this 

13
00:00:57.723 --> 00:01:00.221
region’s priority development.

14
00:01:00.221 --> 00:01:03.724
Over the last few years, let us say even over the last decades,

15
00:01:03.724 --> 00:01:06.247
we were faced with many problems here.

16
00:01:06.247 --> 00:01:10.134
We paid little attention to this territory although it deserves a lot 

17
00:01:10.134 --> 00:01:13.594
more of it, because it concentrates great wealth as well 

18
00:01:13.594 --> 00:01:15.953
as opportunities for Russia’s future development.

19
00:01:15.953 --> 00:01:21.855
Not only for Russia alone, but also for the development of the entire 

20
00:01:21.855 --> 00:01:26.746
Asia-Pacific region (APR), because this land is very rich 

21
00:01:26.746 --> 00:01:29.528
in natural and mineral resources.

22
00:01:29.528 --> 00:01:35.262
When we talk about the Far East we usually mean the Far East itself,

23
00:01:35.262 --> 00:01:40.489
including Primorye Territory, Khabarovsk Territory, Kamchatka,

24
00:01:40.489 --> 00:01:43.946
and Chukotka, as well as Eastern Siberia.

25
00:01:43.946 --> 00:01:49.595
All this area contains tremendous resources, including oil and gas,

26
00:01:49.595 --> 00:01:56.808
90 percent of Russian tin, 30 percent of Russian gold,

27
00:01:56.808 --> 00:02:00.511
35 percent of forest, 70 percent of Russia’s fish is 

28
00:02:00.511 --> 00:02:03.787
harvested in the local waters.

29
00:02:03.787 --> 00:02:10.838
This is a region with a substantially developed transport 

30
00:02:10.838 --> 00:02:14.242
and railroad infrastructure.

31
00:02:14.242 --> 00:02:19.660
In recent years we have been actively developing road connection.

32
00:02:19.660 --> 00:02:24.579
There is also a huge potential for developing the aviation 

33
00:02:24.579 --> 00:02:26.330
and space industries.

34
00:02:26.330 --> 00:02:31.916
As you might have noticed we have launched a new Russian spaceport 

35
00:02:31.916 --> 00:02:34.750
in one of the Far Eastern regions.

36
00:02:34.750 --> 00:02:38.585
As I have already said, the aviation industry,

37
00:02:38.585 --> 00:02:44.171
including combat air force, has been traditionally developing here.

38
00:02:44.171 --> 00:02:50.116
It is the Russian Far East where the SU aircraft,

39
00:02:50.116 --> 00:02:53.521
which are well known worldwide, are manufactured.

40
00:02:53.521 --> 00:02:56.520
Finally, we are resuming the manufacturing of sea vessels here,

41
00:02:56.520 --> 00:02:59.169
first of all for civilian purposes.

42
00:02:59.169 --> 00:03:04.882
Just earlier today I witnessed the commissioning of one 

43
00:03:04.882 --> 00:03:07.463
of the most promising sites of this kind.

44
00:03:07.463 --> 00:03:12.178
And this is also a good opportunity for humanitarian 

45
00:03:12.178 --> 00:03:14.847
exchanges with our neighbours.

46
00:03:14.847 --> 00:03:17.872
Our intention is to develop music,

47
00:03:17.872 --> 00:03:21.342
theatre and exhibition activities here.

48
00:03:21.342 --> 00:03:25.291
Just recently Mr Gergiev, a distinguished Russian musician 

49
00:03:25.291 --> 00:03:29.058
and conductor, held his concerts here.

50
00:03:29.058 --> 00:03:33.483
We are going to set up a branch of the St Petersburg 

51
00:03:33.483 --> 00:03:35.404
Mariinsky Theatre here.

52
00:03:35.404 --> 00:03:41.081
We are also planning to open local branches of the Hermitage Museum 

53
00:03:41.081 --> 00:03:43.411
and the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.

54
00:03:43.411 --> 00:03:46.081
As you can see, we are now present in the building 

55
00:03:46.081 --> 00:03:48.015
of the Far Eastern Federal University.

56
00:03:48.015 --> 00:03:52.652
I am sure you too have had a chance to assess the size 

57
00:03:52.652 --> 00:03:58.385
of the University – the number of foreign students studying here is 

58
00:03:58.385 --> 00:04:03.022
already in the thousands; there is also a great number 

59
00:04:03.022 --> 00:04:04.877
of foreign professors.

60
00:04:04.877 --> 00:04:10.441
We would like to see science and higher education developing here,

61
00:04:10.441 --> 00:04:15.331
so that it could become one of the major research centres 

62
00:04:15.331 --> 00:04:17.439
in the entire APR system.

63
00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:20.980
Undoubtedly a lot remains to be done here,

64
00:04:20.980 --> 00:04:23.931
but given the labour market demand,

65
00:04:23.931 --> 00:04:28.062
the relevance of such a university is undeniable.

66
00:04:28.062 --> 00:04:32.783
In addition to everything that I have already mentioned,

67
00:04:32.783 --> 00:04:38.348
there is another domain that we consider relevant and having good 

68
00:04:38.348 --> 00:04:40.624
prospects – marine biology.

69
00:04:40.624 --> 00:04:46.020
For many years this region has been home for one of the leading 

70
00:04:46.020 --> 00:04:49.898
institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences,

71
00:04:49.898 --> 00:04:51.836
the Institute of Marine Biology.

72
00:04:51.836 --> 00:04:54.930
You know, we are launching a new centre here;

73
00:04:54.930 --> 00:04:57.494
we have built an oceanarium on its premises,

74
00:04:57.494 --> 00:05:00.996
which is supposed to be not only a public place where people,

75
00:05:00.996 --> 00:05:03.363
I am sure, will enjoy the wildlife,

76
00:05:03.363 --> 00:05:07.553
but also part of the Institute of Marine Biology.

77
00:05:07.553 --> 00:05:12.427
A very interesting and promising cluster has formed here,

78
00:05:12.427 --> 00:05:15.237
and we would be happy if our potential investors,

79
00:05:15.237 --> 00:05:18.733
our counterparts from abroad, first of all those from 

80
00:05:18.733 --> 00:05:22.524
the Asia-Pacific region, knew more about it.

81
00:05:22.524 --> 00:05:26.660
One of the guests who have coming is Shinzo Abe.

82
00:05:26.660 --> 00:05:32.691
There seem to be the beginning of a political deal: you might give up 

83
00:05:32.691 --> 00:05:38.809
one of the Kuril Islands in exchange for greater economic cooperation? 

84
00:05:38.809 --> 00:05:42.083
Are you opened to a deal of that sort?

85
00:05:42.083 --> 00:05:47.942
We do not trade territories although concluding a peace treaty with 

86
00:05:47.942 --> 00:05:53.801
Japan is certainly a key issue and we would like to find a solution 

87
00:05:53.801 --> 00:05:58.195
to this problem together with our Japanese friends.

88
00:05:58.195 --> 00:06:08.598
Back in 1956, we signed a treaty and surprisingly it was ratified both 

89
00:06:08.598 --> 00:06:14.923
by the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union and the Japanese Parliament.

90
00:06:14.923 --> 00:06:20.940
But then Japan refused to implement it and after that the Soviet Union 

91
00:06:20.940 --> 00:06:25.516
also, so to say, nullified all the agreements reached 

92
00:06:25.516 --> 00:06:28.482
within the framework of the treaty.

93
00:06:28.482 --> 00:06:33.566
Some years ago our Japanese counterparts asked us to resume 

94
00:06:33.566 --> 00:06:38.990
the discussions of the issue and so we did meeting them halfway.

95
00:06:38.990 --> 00:06:44.837
Over the passed couple of years the contacts were practically frozen 

96
00:06:44.837 --> 00:06:48.141
on the initiative of the Japanese side,

97
00:06:48.141 --> 00:06:54.243
not ours. At the same time, presently our partners have expressed their 

98
00:06:54.243 --> 00:06:58.141
eagerness to resume discussions on this issue.

99
00:06:58.141 --> 00:07:02.801
It has nothing to do with any kind of exchange or sale.

100
00:07:02.801 --> 00:07:08.394
It is about the search for a solution when neither party would be 

101
00:07:08.394 --> 00:07:13.479
at a disadvantage, when neither party would perceive itself 

102
00:07:13.479 --> 00:07:15.597
as conquered or defeated.

103
00:07:15.597 --> 00:07:21.614
Are you as close to a deal now as you have been since the 1960s? Is it 

104
00:07:21.614 --> 00:07:24.664
better now than any time since then?

105
00:07:24.664 --> 00:07:30.172
I don’t think that we are closer than in 1956 but anyway we have 

106
00:07:30.172 --> 00:07:36.274
resumed our dialogue and agreed that our foreign ministers and relevant 

107
00:07:36.274 --> 00:07:41.866
experts at the level of deputy ministers will intensify this work.

108
00:07:41.866 --> 00:07:46.443
Naturally, this issue has always been a subject of discussions between 

109
00:07:46.443 --> 00:07:49.996
the Russian President and the Prime Minister.

110
00:07:49.996 --> 00:07:53.273
I am sure that during the meeting with Mr Abe here in Vladivostok this 

111
00:07:53.273 --> 00:07:57.529
issue will also be discussed, but finding a solution requires it to be 

112
00:07:57.529 --> 00:08:01.452
well thought out and prepared, and I reiterate,

113
00:08:01.452 --> 00:08:05.824
a solution that is not based on the principles of causing damage, but,

114
00:08:05.824 --> 00:08:08.919
on the contrary, on the principles of creating conditions 

115
00:08:08.919 --> 00:08:12.584
for developing long-term ties between the two countries.

116
00:08:12.584 --> 00:08:17.317
You seem to be more relaxed about territory in Asia.

117
00:08:17.317 --> 00:08:23.142
You mentioned the Kurils, you gave the island of Tarabarov back 

118
00:08:23.142 --> 00:08:29.149
to China. Would you consider giving back Kaliningrad as a tribute?

119
00:08:29.149 --> 00:08:35.338
We handed over nothing, those territories were disputed and we have 

120
00:08:35.338 --> 00:08:41.163
been negotiating this issue with the People's Republic of China,

121
00:08:41.163 --> 00:08:44.167
let me stress that, for 40 years,

122
00:08:44.167 --> 00:08:48.171
and finally managed to come to an agreement.

123
00:08:48.171 --> 00:08:54.542
One part of the territory was assigned to Russia, while another part –

124
00:08:54.542 --> 00:08:57.637
to the People's Republic of China.

125
00:08:57.637 --> 00:09:02.916
Notably, it was only possible, and this is very important,

126
00:09:02.916 --> 00:09:08.013
due to the high level of trust Russia and China reached 

127
00:09:08.013 --> 00:09:10.925
in their relations by that time.

128
00:09:10.925 --> 00:09:15.203
If we reach the same level of trust with Japan,

129
00:09:15.203 --> 00:09:19.390
we might be able to reach certain compromises.

130
00:09:19.390 --> 00:09:24.230
However, there is a fundamental difference between the issue related 

131
00:09:24.230 --> 00:09:28.953
to Japan’s history and our negotiations with China.

132
00:09:28.953 --> 00:09:35.250
What is it all about? The Japanese issue resulted from World War II 

133
00:09:35.250 --> 00:09:41.455
and is stipulated in the international instruments on the outcomes 

134
00:09:41.455 --> 00:09:47.474
of World War II, while our discussions on border issues with our 

135
00:09:47.474 --> 00:09:52.846
Chinese counterparts have nothing to do with World War II 

136
00:09:52.846 --> 00:09:55.809
or any other military conflicts.

137
00:09:55.809 --> 00:10:01.458
This is the first, or rather, I should say, the second point.

138
00:10:01.458 --> 00:10:07.755
Thirdly, regarding the Western part. You have mentioned Kaliningrad.

139
00:10:07.755 --> 00:10:09.052
It was a joke.

140
00:10:09.052 --> 00:10:15.071
All jokes aside. If someone is willing to reconsider the results 

141
00:10:15.071 --> 00:10:18.498
of World War II, let us discuss this.

142
00:10:18.498 --> 00:10:23.499
But then we will have to discuss not only Kaliningrad,

143
00:10:23.499 --> 00:10:28.685
but also the eastern lands of Germany, the city of Lvov,

144
00:10:28.685 --> 00:10:31.926
a former part of Poland, and so on,

145
00:10:31.926 --> 00:10:37.575
and so forth. There are also Hungary and Romania on the list.

146
00:10:37.575 --> 00:10:42.946
If someone wants to open this Pandora's box and deal with 

147
00:10:42.946 --> 00:10:45.724
it, all right, go for it then.

148
00:10:45.724 --> 00:10:48.040
Part Two to be published.