VLADIVOSTOK, August 31 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived in the country's Far East port of Vladivostok on Sunday to hold a meeting on issues related to an APEC summit due to take place in the city in 2012.

The 2012 summit will bring together the leaders of the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member states, which include economic giants China and the United States, and cumulatively account for about half of the global economy.

A senior government official said however in mid-July that the area was lagging behind in preparations for the summit.

"Both the regional and federal authorities are to blame for the failure to meet the schedule," the head of Russia's Audit Chamber, Sergei Stepashin, said.