MOSCOW, November 13 (RIA Novosti) - President Dmitry Medvedev arrives in Singapore on Saturday for a two-day economic summit of Pacific Rim countries focusing on post-crisis development and stronger regional ties.
Speaking ahead of the visit, the president's aide, Sergei Prikhodko, urged efforts to forge a plan for sustainable growth among Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum members, while continuing efforts to overcome the global recession.
He said Medvedev will "speak about plans to modernize the economy and innovation projects."
Medvedev will speak at an APEC business summit to be followed by a working lunch. The leaders of the APEC economies will meet later in the day with members of the APEC Business Advisory Council, Prikhodko said.
Prikhodko said the summit will discuss ways to step up regional cooperation as means of overcoming the current crisis.
On the sidelines of the talks, Medvedev will meet with his U.S. counterpart, Barack Obama, to discuss strategic arms cuts, as well as North Korea and Iran. Medvedev will also meet with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
Medvedev's official visit to Singapore, the first by a Russian leader, will continue after the summit and finish on November 16, and will be dominated by investment projects.
Medvedev will meet with President Sellapan Rama Nathan and the southeast Asian state's other top officials.
Bilateral trade in 2008 stood at over $1.64 billion dominated by Russian exports of fuel oil, crude oil and aluminum sheets. Singapore supplies Russia with electronic equipment, well drills, cars.
On Monday, Medvedev will meet with Singaporean and Russian business leaders. He may also visit Russia's missile cruiser Varyag which is in the country on November 11-17.
