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Russia takes Far East development as priority: Putin

Xinhua, April 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

Development of the Far East regions is a priority for the Russian government, President Vladimir Putin said Friday.

"Having achieved some success, the government is doing a lot to implement measures to overcome economic crisis and stabilize society," Putin said at a meeting with Far East Development Minister Alexander Galushka.

According to an online official statement, the meeting paid special attention to the implementation of relevant laws on the priority development of Russia's Far East regions.

Putin said that the Far East has a good development potential, as represented by the figures of last year -- industrial production in the region increased by 5.3 percent and agriculture production by 18.7 percent, both the highest in the country.

Describing the current conditions in the Russian and the global economies as turbulent and difficult, Putin reminded that "everything must be done to ensure the law (on Far East development) to be fully implemented."

Putin demanded that the plots of land in the Far East allocated to Russian citizens for free should not be re-sold to foreign legal entities and individuals.

The president also urged local administration to accelerate the creation of a free port in the Primorsky Territory -- the most southerly of the Russian Far Eastern territories, on which the legislation would be adopted by the State Duma during the spring session.

Admitting that there are "enough problems", Putin said that the Far East has currently entered "a special period", noting that "additional partners" could be found through the platform of the Vladivostok Eastern Economic Forum, which is planned to be held for the first time in August.

"I very much hope that this (forum) will be a good platform to show the prospects of the development of the Far Eastern Federal District, to show its advantages and to find additional partners to solve the challenges we face in this crucial, strategic important territory of Russia," Putin said.

Putin has repeatedly said Russia's priority for future development will be in the east.

Highlighting the enormous potential of Siberia and the Far East, he once said it would be a chance for Russia to occupy its proper place in the Asia-Pacific region and integrate into the most dynamic region in the world. Endi