GORKI, May 12 (RIA Novosti) – Russia should step up its presence on Asia-Pacific markets especially given the current deterioration in relations with a number of other countries, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Monday.
“It is possible to improve the conditions for cooperation with these countries, which we have been building up for years,” Medvedev said at a meeting on the development of cooperation with the region.
He stressed that although China remained Russia’s key partner in the region, it was necessary to pay attention to other countries.
“We need to have a close look at what potential possibilities for cooperation have not been exploited yet,” the prime minister said.
“I think it is rational to elaborate a portfolio of specific projects which will take into account specific aspects of these countries and specific features of our own territories that will take part in these projects, to diversify our economic activity to the fullest extent, engage all possible partners and investors in cooperation. This is even more efficient given some difficulties we now face at other markets," he added.
Russian energy giant Gazprom is currently negotiating a long-term agreement with China to supply it with an annual 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Earlier on Monday, Russian Deputy Energy Minister Anatoly Yanovsky announced that the contract was almost finalized.
The tentative agreement between Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation was signed in March 2013, but its completion has been delayed over pricing disagreements.
