Speech at Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum.Part 1
September 11, 2009
Orenburg
Выступление на Форуме межрегионального сотрудничества России и Казахстана.
11 сентября 2009 года
Оренбург
PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Mr Nazarbayev, friends,
I would like to once again welcome everyone to this Forum and say that holding it regularly has become a kind of good tradition. This is the sixth year in a row that we are holding this Forum, and it brings together regional leaders, business people, scientists, and public figures. The purpose of the Forum is discussing a widest range of issues regarding cooperation between our nations.
As we agreed at the previous Forum in Aktyubinsk last September, this time we invited delegations not only from the bordering regions, but also from regions that actively cooperate with one another. Thus, from now on this is not a cross-border cooperation forum, but rather, an interregional cooperation forum. This is good, as it means we have designed a more effective and more expanded cooperation mechanism.
I would like to support the opinion voiced by Mr Nazarbayev at our bilateral meeting, that Forum activities are in no way intended for merely ceremonial or formal purposes, they are absolutely instrumental. These activities are not a formality; rather, they are aimed to reinforce our interregional ties and our cross-border contacts which facilitate resolving most practical issues, as well as give momentum to attracting new investments and increasing innovation. Although for the moment there are certain difficulties in innovative development, I hope our cooperation will promote implementation of new technologies.
In this regard, it is indicative that about 200 cooperation agreements have been made among our partner regions, with nearly 40 percent of our bilateral commerce originating from cross-border trade and over 70 percent from interregional trade. Thus, interregional trade generates over two thirds of our overall turnover. Our goal is to continue strengthening these trends, because they bring our nations together, helping develop our regions, creating new jobs, and expanding regional revenues, which is probably most important.
It is quite natural that this Forum is taking place in Orenburg. Kazakhstan is Orenburgs number one foreign partner, accounting for over one third of the Orenburg Regions trade turnover - that share reaching about 2 billion dollars. There are over 30 joint Russian-Kazakhstani companies operating in Orenburg Region. Certainly, the significance of direct investments is very clear here.
This Forum should pay particular attention to energy cooperation. Over the last several years, we have been implementing joint projects in all areas. We have just mentioned prospecting, mining, refining and transporting hydrocarbons and constructing new facilities. Good examples of such cooperation are establishing a joint venture involving Orenburg Natural Gas Processing Plant, construction of a third unit at Ekibastuz Power Station and close contacts within the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. We have been actively discussing other prospects such as civilian nuclear energy projects and joint companies.
Now, after the accident at the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydroelectric Station, the issues of integrating energy systems of Siberia and European Russia through Kazakhstans energy supply network and increasing capacities of supply lines from the Urals to Siberia via Kazakhstan are of particular relevance. The wellbeing of the huge area of Siberia entirely depends on successful accomplishment of the above targets. The subject was examined at the bilateral meeting between Mr Nazarbayev and myself.
The energy sectors general development is a significant subject today. Until recently, such development was powered by assumption of a perpetual energy consumption growth. In the current circumstances we have to focus on improving our economys energy efficiency, developing alternative energy sources, and reducing environmental damage. All of this is important both within the general context of our development which is impossible without improved energy efficiency, and in the context of minimising the global financial crisis impact.
We are ready to engage in designing a new architecture of energy cooperation. In 2006, Russia submitted its respective suggestions. This year, we drafted a Conceptual Approach to developing a new legal framework for international cooperation in energy. In particular, we proposed to sign a legally binding document that would regulate all aspects of global interactions in this field. We would like for contacts of this kind to continue between Russia and Kazakhstan as well.
http://www.kremlin.ru
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Д.Медведев.Казахстан и Россия.11.09.09.Part 2by niknikolay1,670 views
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