2012 September - Cover Story

Russia to keep moving forward

俄羅斯 冀再創輝煌

今年是「全球選舉年」，據聞全世界八十多個國家和地區都有重要的選舉舉行，而今年初的俄羅斯總統選舉便是備受國際關注的選舉之一。普京作為執政黨代表參選，並以大比數優勢勝出。對於普京這次參與總統選舉及再次出任俄羅斯總統，國際社會及俄國人民或許有不同的看法和評價，然而俄國若由普京領導，相信俄國在國際的地位和影響力將會越益重要。

普京在倫敦觀看奧運賽事

重新認識俄國

當人們談及俄羅斯，自不然便會聯想到前蘇聯。事實上，現今仍有不少人對俄羅斯的認識有所誤解，以為與前蘇聯大致相同，甚至有些人仍存「美蘇冷戰」思維看俄羅斯問題。值得留意的一個事實是，當年前蘇聯瓦解時，其經濟狀況已非常惡劣，即使在葉利欽時代也不見得有重大的起色。然而葉利欽的接班人普京上台後，情況便逐步有向好的轉變，俄羅斯的民主生活和人民生活水平有明顯的改善和提高。雖然現時俄羅斯的綜合國力和國際影響力與前蘇聯最高峰時期相比可能仍存差距，但經過十年多的努力，在俄國的政經穩定情況下，在不遠的將來，俄羅斯定會再創輝煌。

普京會見到訪的越南國家主席張晉創

發展東部地區

從二零一二年五月七日普京再次出任俄羅斯總統後，他在多個場合的致辭中，不難看出普京重視經濟議題以及俄國要重振在亞太地區以至在全球的影響力。普京重視俄國與上合組織會員國的友好合作關係，在一些國際及地區性議題上堅持以聯合國框架下處理。在國際經濟議題上，俄國重視與中國、韓國、印度、越南以及有領土糾紛的日本等亞太國家增強經濟合作關係。

在國內經濟問題上，俄國開始啟動開發西伯利亞和俄東部地區，鼓勵國內外投資者在這些地區進行直接投資，例如堪察加邊疆區便有多個項目向國際招標等，這無疑給國際社會顯示俄國發展西伯利亞地區及俄遠東地區經濟的決心和目標，一改以往俄國只偏向發展俄歐洲地區的情況，預料經過多年的努力，將會縮窄俄歐洲地區與俄遠東地區的經濟差距。

普京與張晉創會談

俄羅斯島會議

今年九月初，第二十四屆亞太經合組織(APEC 2012)將會在俄羅斯遠東地區城市符拉迪沃斯托克(Vladivostok)市的俄羅斯島舉行。俄羅斯選擇這遠東城市，而不是已具規模、經濟較發達的莫斯科、聖彼得堡或其他歐洲城市，主要的原因便是讓國際社會瞭解俄國要致力發展東部經濟以及增強與亞太地區聯繫的訊息。據聞俄國已訂下目標，在不久之將來，要把俄國出口至亞太地區的比例不少於百分之五十。假如這次俄羅斯符拉迪沃斯托克亞太經合組織會議成功，將會以事實表明俄國是有能力發展其遠東領土。正因如此，俄國為APEC 2012作了精心的籌備和基礎建設方面的投資。其中於二零一二年七月竣工、連接俄羅斯島與符拉迪沃斯托克之間的金角灣大橋，全長一千一百零四米、中央主樑跨度達一百零四米，是目前世界跨度最長的斜拉橋，而金角灣大橋會成為符拉迪沃斯托克市的新地標。此外，為了這次會議，當地還新建了一所俄羅斯聯邦遠東大學，校園內有水族館、自然公園、學生及大學教職員工的住宅區，俄羅斯島內還新設歌劇院、芭蕾舞劇院、把符拉迪沃斯克國際機場改造和升級、增建現代化酒店等等，費用估計會超過一千四百七十五億盧布。由二零零六年越南河內APEC會議，俄羅斯提出主辦APEC 2012、二零零七年澳洲悉尼APEC會議決定APEC 2012首腦會議首次在俄羅斯遠東地區的符拉迪沃斯托克俄羅斯島舉行，至今只有數載，但參與APEC 2012會議的多個國家領導人將可親身體會「俄羅斯速度」和見證俄東部地區的變化。相信，通過這次APEC 2012高峰會議，將會促進俄遠東地區的經濟發展，而符拉迪沃斯托克市將會更受世人認識，並可能成為俄國新興的國際旅遊目的地。

駱勵生

Speeches of President of Russia, Vladimir Putin in some issue

Speech at the inauguration ceremony

Vladimir Putin inaugurated as President of Russia

Address at the ceremony for presenting Russian Federation National Awards

“It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the achievements of scientists from the Siberian and Urals scientific schools, well-known experts in the field of organic synthesis: Boris Trofimov, Valery Charushin and Oleg Chupakhin. Their findings have led to the creation of new chemical compounds that represent a real breakthrough in the nuclear, agrochemical and pharmaceutical industries. Moreover, a number of widely used medications have already been developed on the basis of their fundamental research.”

“Another research team will receive the National Award for achievements related to healthcare. Rem Petrov and Rakhim Khaitov have been working together for 40 years. They are leaders in the most important areas of modern immunology, which is a field that opens up new possibilities for medicine.”

“I am glad to see among the winners a prominent Russian geologist, Kola Peninsula researcher Feliks Mitrofanov. Thanks to Mr Mitrofanov’s many years of hard work, our country not only has access to the richest deposits of platinum group metals and gold, but has found unique exploration methods that are successfully employed by Russian and foreign mining companies.”

“Today we presented the National Awards (I believe that we did it together) to professionals working in different fields. One of these fields is national defence. I told you what the award was presented for. This is a very important development, which will affect the very essence of our national defence: a missile attack early warning radar station. Could we imagine just a short time ago that this work will be conducted by an organisation that is completely, one hundred percent funded and owned by private capital? That is unbelievable, yet it is true. This is an example of public-private partnership that we have established not only in this area, but also in science, education, art and culture, and it is certain to yield maximum positive results. Our goal is to create the conditions for the emancipation of our people’s talents, and this is a target we will pursue.”

The Russian Federation National Award in Science and Technology is conferred to Sergei Boyev.

Address at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Russian Air Force

“In August 1912 the Staff of the Aeronautic Unit of the Russian Army General Staff was established. The Russian military aviation was born. It was created to protect our skies, our country and our people.

The glorious history of the Russian Air Force is rich in examples of extraordinary courage and sacrifice, dedicated work and ingenious technological breakthroughs.

Starting with the first flight units, the first squadron of the famous Ilya Muromets bombers, our military aviation tempered and strengthened its traditions, the traditions of heroes and victors, the true soldiers of their Fatherland.

The annals of the Russian Air Force are made up of pioneers’ exploits such as Nesterov and Pugachev, who gave their names to the most complex aerobatics. They tell us about military pilot Yury Gagarin, the first man to venture into space.”

“Today I want to express our gratitude to those who helped our aviation to survive in a very difficult, challenging time in the 1990s and the early 2000s, remained faithful to your traditions and your calling at a time when aircraft stayed idle for long periods of time.

Now flight crews and units are undergoing intensive military training. Our strategic aircraft have resumed regular flights. Work is underway to modernise the ground infrastructure and airfields. New air bases and multi-purpose aircraft groups have been established.

Our first priority is to supply advanced, modern technology to the troops. More than 600 new planes and 1,000 helicopters will come into service by 2020, and these numbers do not include the modernised systems.

Special emphasis will be placed on the creation of advanced aviation systems for long-range aircraft, operational, tactical and combat aviation, the introduction of precision-guided weapons, electronic warfare, and unmanned combat and reconnaissance aircraft systems. These efforts, which have already been launched at our design bureaus and defence companies, will ensure that our aviation has a great future.”

Address at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Russian Air Force.

Celebration of the 100th anniversary of Russian Air Force. Watching demonstration flights by the Russian Air Force aircraft aerobatics teams.

Celebration of the 100th anniversary of Russian Air Force. Watching demonstration flights by the Russian Air Force aircraft aerobatics teams with Air Force Commander Viktor Bondarev.

With Air Force servicemen and veterans

Speech at the Seliger 2012 National Youth Education Forum

“It is good to see here people with all different kinds of views on life, art, business, and politics. This makes for a vibrant environment and an exchange of information genes that is very valuable and useful.”

“As far as change in power is concerned, like any democratic country, we have our basic law, the Constitution, which sets out our country’s organisation in various areas, including the electoral system. You are all young people, but I think you all realise that it would have been possible and easy enough to change the Constitution and – I’m referring to myself here – run for a third term in office. The Constitution did not allow a third term. It stipulates no more than two consecutive terms. I respected this and did not try to rewrite the Constitution to suit myself, left the President’s office and took a more modest but nonetheless very important post for our country’s life.

Later, in accordance with the Constitution, I used my constitutional right to run for election and was elected President. I think this sent a very important signal to our society, several signals in fact. First, this whole change of power happened in calm fashion, and second, when we respect the Constitution and its rules, the country continues to function and develop.”

“But I am certain that the overwhelming majority of people expressing their complaints to the authorities are interested in changing the situation in the nation for the better. And naturally, I fully agree with you, we need various forms of dialogue between society and the people, people and the authorities."But I am certain that the overwhelming majority of people expressing their complaints to the authorities are interested in changing the situation in the nation for the better. And naturally, I fully agree with you, we need various forums for dialogue between society and the people, people and the authorities.”

Speech at the Meeting with APEC member economies’ trade union leaders

“We worked very hard during the serious crisis that hit the global economy in 2009-2010. Our unemployment level jumped up sharply then, but the measures we took brought it back down to the pre-crisis level and indeed, we have done even better and now have an unemployment level lower than the 2008-2009 pre-crisis level.

Our average national unemployment level is now 5.1-5.2 percent. This is a decent result. Our goal now is not just to keep reducing this level, but to reformat our labour market. We have set ourselves the ambitious target of creating 25 million new jobs. Some of these jobs will be created from scratch, while others will be created by reformatting existing jobs. The primary objective is to get people doing more skilled and better paid work.”

Speech at the Press statements following Russian-Chinese talks

“China is a strategic partner of the Russian Federation. Our relations in all fields are built on a mutually beneficial basis with a high degree of trust and openness.

In the political sphere, we have attained the highest level of mutual trust: we provide firm support to each other on key issues affecting the vital interests of our two nations.”

“We welcome the active participation of Chinese partners in the Russian technoparks and special economic zones, as well as research and innovation centres. We are ready to further boost interregional cooperation, intensify the programme of cooperation between the Russian Far East, Eastern Siberia and Northeast China. We have adopted such a programme until 2018.”

“Our countries have consistently advocated the establishment of an equitable world order, uniting the efforts of all states in the fight against modern threats. These include terrorism, extremism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and large-scale economic crises. To this end, we intend to increase cooperation in major international organisations including the UN, G20, BRICS and SCO. We will work actively in multilateral associations of the Asia-Pacific region.

We believe our joint initiative to strengthen security in the Asia-Pacific region plays an important role and will support the relationship between our defence agencies. We support the formation of an open and equitable security and cooperation architecture in the region based on the principles of international law.”

Speech at the Press statements following Russian-Vietnamese talks

“I would like to emphasise that Vietnam is certainly one of the leaders of the rapidly developing Asia-Pacific region while, as you know, Russia is and will continue building up its relations with that region. This will certainly promote the development of Russia’s own economy, including the Asian part of the country in the Far East.”

“We have a long, successful history of cooperating in energy. The Vietsovpetro joint venture has been in operation since 1981, and our cooperation in this field is constantly expanding. The company is exploiting new deposits on Vietnam’s continental shelf. Just recently, Zarubezhneft, the Russian shareholder of Vietsovpetro, was officially announced the winner of the tender for developing another gas block offshore south of Vietnam.”

“Vietnam is our traditional strategic partner and reliable friend. Today, it is an actively-developing nation with a population of 90 million. And our meeting today with the President of Vietnam, with our Vietnamese friends, shows that our bilateral cooperation is gaining momentum.”

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