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Putin Stresses Cooperation with Asia-Pacific
Russian President Vladimir Putin believes Russian economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region is "natural and inevitable," the Interfax news agency reported Thursday.
"Russia is a kind of integration junction that connects Asia, Europe and America," Putin said in an article entitled "Russia: New Eastern Prospects," released by the Kremlin press service Thursday, on the eve of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Brunei.
Russia joined APEC three years ago, prompting its cooperative efforts with countries in the region.
Russia plays an important role in the region, providing stability and security and acting as a mediator. Russia is ready to cooperate with big and small countries in the region, Putin said.
The president believes many options are available to his country, including cooperation on energy and environmental projects and development of the sea shelf and transport relations.
Putin noted that Russian foreign policy has been emphasizing the Asia-Pacific region over the past few years and will continue to do so.
"We have never forgotten that most of Russia's territory is located in Asia. True, we sometimes did not make use of that benefit. I think it is time for us and the Asia-Pacific countries to move from words to deeds and mount economic, political and other relations," the president stressed.
Russia does not plan to avoid solving complicated regional issues, such as the Korean Peninsula, he said.
Russia wants regional peace and stability so that all nations in northeastern Asia can develop socially and economically, said Putin.
Putin called on all regional nations to join hands and fight terrorism, religious extremism, separatism and cross-border crimes.
"We are optimistic about the future and we are confident that the new millennium is a time of new prospects for the Asia-Pacific region. And new eastern prospects are being opened to Russia, which we will naturally develop and assist in turning the region into our common home," the president said in the article.
Next week, Putin will fly to Brunei to attend the APEC Forum.
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