Far East, Russia's New Weapons and Economy of The Future - Putin at EEF 2023

"He [Pashinyan] sent me a detailed letter. We are in contact with him. We have no problems with Armenia and prime minister Pashinyan," Putin said.

"Our country must be self-sufficient, including in the field of security and defense. But this does not mean isolation of the country. This means that we, in cooperation with our partners and friends, in integration with the vast majority of countries that represent the majority of the country’s population, will develop our own country and make it even stronger," Putin said.

Speaking about Russia's law on foreign agents, the president said that it is almost a copy of the similar law in the US, but only "more humane." There are many aspects as regards the law on foreign agents, and Russia is constantly amending and improving it, Putin added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Western countries are trying to restrain the development of China, but they are too late, new centers of power will develop. Putin commented on cooperation with China, saying that Russia does not create military alliances and does not make friends against anyone.

He added that attacks in all directions against Russia are continuation of geopolitical confrontation of the West. Everything that is happening with Trump is persecution for political reasons, the US has exposed its internal problems, this shows who is fighting against Russia, Putin said.

"[Russian state space corporation] Roscosmos has already made a decision, supported by the government [of Russia] to attract [private businesses], and we are already attracting private investors in this area of activity, quite successfully," Putin said.

US President Joe Biden and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, as well as other global leaders announced on Saturday an economic corridor connecting India, the Middle East and Europe via a network of railways and ports.

"The seizure of legally earned assets [abroad], you know it's not my assets, it's assets of our companies, businessmen, is simply beyond the pale," Putin said.

Putin also stated that the decision by the Bank of Russia to raise the key rate was timely and aimed at reducing inflationary risks.

"By 2030, LNG production in Russia's Arctic zone should triple (up to 64 million tonnes per year). In this regard, a fundamental decision was made to launch new LNG lines at the Murmansk center for work in Arctic fields. Of course, this will make a huge contribution to the development of our northern regions, to strengthening the technological sovereignty of Russia," Putin said at the plenary session of the ongoing Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok.

The president added that Russia expects to continue trade cooperation with this region since the potential of this partnership "is impossible to overestimate."

Vladimir Putin said that the US "crushes" allies and partners, it has no friends, only its own interests, this is a continuation of the well-known British formula.

"We started [work on infrastructure development in the Far East] a long time ago, but in recent years, what is happening in the global economy, of course, has stimulated our work in this Far Eastern direction," Putin said.

Putin added that high-speed highways will run through Siberia and the Far East to the Pacific Ocean and instructed to prepare by March 1 a comprehensive action plan for the development of the aviation complex in the Far Eastern Federal District.