The two officials discussed providing telephone services in rural areas, modernising national communications systems and technology, and cooperation with foreign – especially European – partners in regulating mobile roaming tariffs. Vladimir Putin emphasised that constant attention should be given to this issue, so that “Russians will not find themselves at a disadvantage compared with residents of other countries using modern communications services.”

Mr Putin and Mr Kiriyenko discussed the industry’s six-month performance and plans for the immediate future. In view of the Fukushima tragedy, they put special focus on safety at Russian nuclear power plants. As Mr Kiriyenko reported, experts who inspected nuclear plants in Russia, including foreign experts, agree that the plants meet all Russian and international standards. Mr Putin and Mr Kiriyenko also touched upon Rosatom’s cooperation with foreign partners.

The officials focused on economic issues, notably the situation in the construction sector, and discussed preparations for the coming harvesting campaign. Mr Putin was keen to know how health and education reform are progressing in the Rostov Region and when local teachers will have their pay raised.

"In Russia, the national agrarian policy has always been about more than economics. It has at all times carried social implications and in many ways determined the potential for the country’s development in general."