MOSCOW, May 22 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the participants of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) and stressed that Russia was ready to step up contacts with all its partners providing the cooperation is based on equality and mutual respect, a statement on the Kremlin website said Thursday.
“I am sure that the XVIII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will make a major contribution to a solution to the similar problems, promote strengthening of mutual trust and respect. Russia is ready to expand multi-faceted contracts with all the partners on conditions of true equality and mutual respect,” the statement said.
The Russian president also stressed that the main theme of the forum this year is “Sustaining Confidence in a World Undergoing Transformation.”
“In light of current rapid geopolitical, technological and structural changes this choice was not accidental. Only if acting together, taking into account mutual interests and bolstering constructive ties forged for decades, the international community might move on and ensure further global development,” Putin said.
Some 150 international firms and 450 leading Russian companies are taking part in the 2014 International Economic Forum that kicked off earlier on Thursday in the Russian city of St. Petersburg. The event will last for three days.
Over the past months the relations between Russia and many partners strained over the ongoing tensions in Ukraine. Following the March 16 referendum that saw a large majority of the citizens of Ukraine’s former Republic of Crimea voted to join Russia Western countries imposed sanctions against Russian officials and companies. A number of countries also put on hold or backed out of joint projects with Russia.
