Putin: Russia wants to become leading food supplier to Asia

MOSCOW, Nov 9 (PRIME) -- Russia wants to become a leading exporter of ecologically clean food to the Asia–Pacific region, President Vladimir Putin said in an article published on the Kremlin’s Web site late on Wednesday.

“Of course, we need to tackle food security issues together and think about how to meet the region's rapidly growing demand for high-quality and healthy food,” the article read.

“Russia is one of the world’s leaders in exports of grain, vegetable oils, fish, and a number of other foods. We expect to become the leading supplier of ecologically clean food to our neighbors in the Asia-Pacific region. To do so, we are taking measures to increase agricultural output and improve productivity,” Putin said.

He also said that Russia’s goal is to implement multilateral infrastructural projects with countries of the region, including creation of an energy ring between Russia, China, South Korea, and Japan.

“We are committed to implementing bilateral and multilateral infrastructure projects which will link our economies and markets. Among other projects, I am referring to the Energy Super Ring that unites Russia, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, and the Sakhalin-Hokkaido transport link,” he said.

He also said that China’s One Belt – One Road initiative is a flexible and modern project “open to other participants.”

Russia is ready to work together with others in order to ensure consistent growth of the Asia–Pacific region. “We intend to engage in substantive discussions of all these topics during the upcoming summit in Danang. I am confident that, acting together, we will find acceptable solutions to the challenge of supporting the steady, balanced, and harmonious growth of our shared region, and securing its prosperity. Russia is ready for such a collaborative effort,” he said.

Putin is to take part in the 25th summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) organization in Vietnam’s Danang on Friday–Saturday.

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