Russia, Japan, Britain economies on mend

MOSCOW, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Leaders and economists in Russian, Japan and Britain all say the worst of the economic malaise is over in their countries and see better days in 2010.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of his Cabinet Wednesday his country's economy has forged into positive territory, ITAR-Tass reported.

"The active phase of the crisis is over," Putin said. "It has been overcome and starting from the second half of the year economic growth resumed."

Russia's gross domestic product slumped by 8.5 percent in 2009 but is expected to grow 3 percent in the coming year, Putin said, adding inflation, which would come in at about 9 percent for the year, has been brought under control, ITAR-Tass said.

The New York Times reported Japan announced a long-term growth strategy Wednesday the Asian nation projects will mean growth of at least 2 percent a year for the next decade. Japan also expects unemployment to slide below 3 percent in the "medium term, down from 5.2 percent in November, the newspaper said.

"The new government's ability to take action is being tested," said Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who took office in September. "We will do whatever it takes to achieve this."

That will include pushing for the creation of a free-trade zone in Asia, which Hatoyama called "a new frontier," by 2020, the Times said.

The Daily Telegraph reported British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also forecasts an upward trend for the new decade, though he called the recovery "fragile."

"There are some who say we must plan for a decade of austerity and unfairness where the majority lose out while the privileged few protect themselves," the Telegraph reported Brown as saying in remarks prepared for his annual New Year message.

"I believe we can create a decade of shared prosperity -- with opportunities fairly shared among all those who work hard and play by the rules. And so my message today is simple: Don't wreck the recovery."