Strengthening equal partnership in the Asia-Pacific region

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Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's article ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, to be held in Lima on Saturday

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's article ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, to be held in Lima on Saturday 

 

Over the past decade Russia has been working actively and with initiative in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum. In the run-up to the APEC Summit in the Peruvian capital, I would like to share my vision of the role and goals of this authoritative regional alliance, and prospects for Russia's participation in it.

         The modern world is changing rapidly. These shifts in dynamic are particularly evident in Asia-Pacific countries. It is in this region where all pluses and minuses of the global economy and the increase in multilateral interdependence are observable. It is these countries that are increasingly facing new challenges that cannot be addressed without creating a better security architecture and institutions for sustainable development.

         I am convinced that APEC can and must play a growing role in the search for means of securing stability and prosperity for our shared region. During the upcoming Lima summit we will discuss prospects for economic, investment and technological cooperation, as well as directions and models of further development of Asia-Pacific cooperation.

         I would like to emphasize that minimizing the consequences of the global financial crisis and ensuring energy and food security are, in my view, priority areas.

         The global economic crisis was prompted mainly by financial market imbalances and faulty economic policies of certain countries.

         In order to protect the national economy and ensure the functioning of the real sector as well as the early recovery of the banking system, Russia is taking effective stabilization measures. We have developed a programme to minimize crisis impact, which is being implemented. In our anticrisis domestic policy we attach great importance to enhancing international collaboration. We consider this a key to solving the priority task of establishing a multipolar international financial and economic system.

It is the APEC countries, in particular, that will have to largely assume the task of unravelling the world economic crisis. Today, the role of the emerging economies is growing as never before. Against the backdrop of the comedown of traditionally sustainable economies (and even the threat of recession in a number of developed countries), the possibilities of maintaining high growth rates, APEC Member States' market investment capacities, and the high human and technological potential of these countries, allow us to consider that this region will become the driver of sustainable world economic development in the future. We believe that many APEC countries will become leaders in the post-crisis period and will gain new positions in key markets.

We voiced a number of proposals to modernize the world economic structure and finances at the G20 Washington summit. I believe that it is necessary to discuss them at the upcoming APEC meeting. The Organization's high mutual trade turnover bodes well for establishing a more flexible modern system of international trade, as well as to strengthen the role of regional currencies.

The summit agenda contains such topical issues as energy security, food shortage, climate change, trade security, as well as the issue of increasing social responsibility of the corporate sector. A substantive discussion of these issues and development of agreed decisions fully meet APEC's program goals.

Serious attention should be given to the issues of energy security. Russia shares the concerns of Forum members about energy price fluctuations. Indeed, they influence economic growth rates, and affect the realization of urgent social projects.

As one of the largest oil and gas suppliers in the world, Russia will promote the creation of 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. We are clearly interested in maintaining stable and predictable hydrocarbon prices based on the real ratio of demand to supply. We stand ready to take part in joint energy-saving projects, and the development of alternative energy sources.

Environmental protection is playing an ever-greater role in fulfilling economic development objectives. This is becoming one of the leading themes at various international forums, including APEC. Russia has been dealing with these problems in a responsible way, which is illustrated by our contribution to the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. Necessary steps at the international and national levels have been taken. In July of this year I signed a decree on measures to increase the energy and environmental effectiveness of the Russian economy, which sets out a goal of cutting Russia's power consumption relative to GDP by at least forty per cent by 2020 compared to 2007.

         We have been striving to find an effective solution to the acute problem of food shortages. Russia possesses unique agricultural potential and has been doing its utmost not only to fully meet its own needs, but also to help other countries. In the future, Russia seeks to become a major player on the world food market. In response to the food problem, which has been increasingly troubling consumers and producers, Russia has put forward an initiative to hold the World Grain Summit in St. Petersburg in early June 2009.

         This partnership between the state and private businesses has been a significant source of sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region. This partnership has been in APEC's focus. For instance, the Dialogue on Non-Ferrous Metals initiated by Russia has been developing successfully over several years with the broad participation of business circles of our countries. Currently, the Special Task Group on Mining and Metallurgy is actively working under Russia's chairmanship. The activities of Russian business community representatives in the Business Consultative Council of the Forum has been positively assessed by our partners. The Council held its plenary session in Moscow this May.

         I would like to note, in particular, the initiative launched by Peru to enhance social responsibility of the APEC corporate sector. What is involved is a consolidation of state and private interests to achieve a common strategic goal, which is sustainable and progressive social and economic development throughout the vast Asia-Pacific region.

         Russia fully shares and supports this approach. Our economy has a continuous successful record of integration into the world economy. We intend to further multilateral dialogue within APEC on liberalization of the trade regime and the development of investment interaction.

         Issues of ensuring security also continue to be among the priorities for cooperation. This primarily concerns joint action against international terrorism, which seriously threatens trade and economic ties, as well as sea communications and energy transportation. APEC's work on the implementation of Russia's initiative on counter-terrorist protection of strategically important elements of the energy infrastructure is aimed at bolstering joint efforts aimed at carrying out these tasks.

         Improvement of joint action in emergency situations is another current task. This also includes the prevention and mitigation of consequences of natural and man-made disasters, and the fight against pandemic diseases. Russia has accumulated considerable organizational and technological expertise in these fields which, as practice shows, has been used by the APEC countries. Only in recent years prompt and effective assistance by Russian rescuers who worked side-by-side with their colleagues allowed the saving and protection of thousands of lives.

         The fight against corruption has been increasingly in the focus of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum. Like other participants in the Forum, Russia considers this work exceptionally important. This summer, the National Plan for Countering Corruption was adopted, and quite recently an "anti-corruption package" of laws was submitted to the State Duma. We will do our utmost to promote multilateral efforts in this field as well.

         I have mentioned only the main tasks facing the Forum today. I am convinced that their practical fulfillment depends on APEC's commitment to the principles of consensus and voluntariness. Russia will continue to strictly adhere to these principles.

         We are convinced that Russia's involvement in the integration processes in the region contributes to more efficient implementation of social and economic development programmes in our country. And in this context, we attach great importance to strengthening industrial cooperation and collaboration in the field of advanced technologies and implementing transportation projects, including the establishment of a "land bridge" to move cargos between Asia‑Pacific and Europe.

         Broadening interregional ties is of particular importance for Siberia and the Far East of Russia. It is for these reasons that in view of the Russian presidency it was decided to hold the APEC 2012 summit in Vladivostok. We are already actively preparing for this, drawing on new ideas as well as the experience of organizing meetings of the Forum's working groups in the Far East.

         The active presidency of Peru in APEC in 2008 and the preparation by Peruvian leaders of an intensive agenda of the upcoming summit assure us that it will bear positive results. I am convinced that the authority of the Forum, the interest in cooperation for the benefit of our peoples and the responsible APEC-specific approach to tackling issues of present-day relevance will continue to grow from year to year. And this is the key to success in building our common, secure and prosperous Asia-Pacific space.

 

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