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Mr Putin underlined that Russia should change its policy in the Far East, pointing out that the area, together with the Trans-Baikal territories, was developing very slowly, and regional enterprises often produced uncompetitive goods. The situation was further aggravated by the lack of adequate infrastructure. At the same time, the President stressed that the region’s significant reserves of natural resources combined with more efficient use of industrial potential would be enough to get the region going. Listing the problems hindering the development of the region, the President set specific goals for the federal and regional governments, in particular, for the Federal Energy Commission, Ministry of Energy, and State Fisheries Committee.

The President said that the Government would consider the social and economic development of the Kuril Islands in the near future. He also stated that the entry of the Far East as a player in the Asia-Pacific regional market was in the interests of both Russia and the region itself.

Following his working trip to the Amur Region, Mr Putin left for the 2000 G8 summit in Nago, Okinawa.