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Putin makes pitch for Far East investment at Eastern Economic Forum

By Jared M. Feldschreiber
While speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a pitch for greater investment in the country's resource-rich Far East region. File Photo by Luo Xiaoguang/Pool/UPI
While speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a pitch for greater investment in the country's resource-rich Far East region. File Photo by Luo Xiaoguang/Pool/UPI

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin made a pitch Friday for greater investment in the country's resource-rich Far East region.

At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok,, Putin said the Russian government would create favorable conditions for conducting business.

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"Let me stress that developing the Far East region continues Russia's historic course," he said. "Russia's movement toward the Pacific coast was the result of the great labour and courage of many generations of our forebears. Outstanding sons of our country – pioneers, industrialists, and statesmen – bound their names to the Far East's development. Times and political systems have changed, but the course of developing this region remains unchanged."

Russia's Far East shares a lengthy border with China. The region is major producer of oil, gas, coal and timber, and accounts for around 70 percent of Russia's fishery reserves, according to Russia's Federal Agency for Fishery.

"Our main task is to develop the economy and infrastructure, build new production facilities and create new jobs. This is the goal we are working toward," Putin said.

His speech also touched on the recent riots in Kiev.

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"As for the tragic events near the Verkhovna Rada, I believe that they were in no way related to changes in the Ukrainian Constitution, because what is being proposed there today as changes is entirely declarative and does not change the structure of power in Ukraine at all," Putin said.

On Monday, violent clashes erupted between nationalists and riot police outside Ukraine's parliament, as lawmakers were approving the amendment. In addition to the deaths of three soldiers, at least 130 people were injured.

American model-actress Pamela Anderson is also present at the forum, where she was addressing ecological and animal cruelty issues.

On Thursday, Putin was in Beijing, where Russia and China signed a litany of agreements, dealing with transportation, energy and financial partnerships. "The partnership between Russia and China is based on sincere friendship and sympathy between our peoples, on deep respect and trust, consideration for each other's key interests and commitment to make our countries flourish," Putin told Tass.

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