Vladimir Putin and Sergei Mironov discussed the issues of Arctic and Antarctic research and the development of Russian polar aviation. The Prime Minister expressed his support for Sergei Mironov’s proposals. As Vladimir Putin noted, the government programme for the development of the North Sea Route must incorporate an aviation strategy. Transcript of the beginning of [...]

Before the start of the videoconference, President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin reviewed the headquarters’ operation. An employee responsible for monitoring social networking websites and managing United Russia’s Twitter page, said the party’s microblog has 10,000 followers. The prime minister asked about the work of the United Russia website. Sergei Neverov, secretary of the party’s [...]

“The government has always had a special attitude towards this place and the memory of Alexander Pushkin. It is no coincidence that the first Pushkin Museum was opened here.” The prime minister laid flowers at the monument to the most famous of the lyceum’s alumni, Alexander Pushkin, and addressed the museum’s staff and guests. * [...]

Vladimir Putin said that his visit to China was “very successful”. The prime minister also praised the overall development of Russian-Chinese relations. Transcript of the beginning of the meeting: Hu Jintao (via interpreter): Mr Prime Minister, I was very pleased to meet with you once again after three months. Welcome to China for your official [...]

Prime Minister Putin and Premier Wen Jiabao were also present for the signing of a series of important documents: Protocol of the 15th meeting of the Russian-Chinese Commission on Preparing for Regular Meetings of the Heads of Government; Memorandum of cooperation between the governments of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China in [...]

Transcript of the beginning of the meeting: Vladimir Putin: Esteemed colleagues! I would like to return to the issue of equipping the Chita-Khabarovsk highway. As you may recall, we have discussed it on many occasions, and we must see it through. As you may recall, we talked first about updating and renovating particular sections of [...]

“We will not simply stand around. We will do our utmost to ensure that the general public and our partners, above all in the economy and politics, feel that our policy is consistent and understand that we are a stable, reliable country in which one can invest, and with which one can and should cooperate.” [...]

The topic of the meeting was how to help farmers sell this year’s grain harvest. Zubkov suggested extending the “exceptionally favourable rail tariff” that already existed in some sectors to grain exports from Siberia and the Kurgan Region as well as to soy and soy oil meal shipments from the Far East to central Russia. [...]