Vladimir Putin and German Gref discussed the bank's results for the first quarter of 2011, as well as the bank's social programmes – primarily support for the mortgage system. Special attention was paid to Sberbank’s programme for building family-type children's homes.
Mr Putin and Mr Yakushev discussed the challenges facing the region – some industries lagging behind, the danger of drought and forest fires. However, as the prime minister noted, the region looks pretty good on the whole. Mr Putin and Mr Yakushev focused especially on the construction of major educational facilities and the health care modernisation programme.
During the meeting Vladimir Putin suggested that Nikolai Fyodorov lead the Institute of Socio-Economic and Political Studies, one of the goals of which is, according to the prime minister, providing “intellectual support” for the preparations of the Russian Popular Front and United Russia for parliamentary elections.
“Language and a country's spiritual, cultural and historical heritage are what define national identity and bind together the people, society, and the entire country. What’s more, in many ways, these form the foundations for state sovereignty.”
“Russian-Austrian relations have been improving, moving into a new dimension of a partnership based on trust,” Mr Putin said.
“Russia is firmly committed to working in this direction just as effectively as it did over the last two years, during which it essentially changed the paradigm of post-Soviet integration,” said the Russian prime minister.
“The common customs territory of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan has become a reality, and today it yields tangible benefits to our countries and stimulates trade.”
“Cooperation in EurAsEC played a significant role during the crisis in terms of stabilising our national economies. This only testifies to the community’s efficiency as one of the leading structures of international integration in Eurasia.”
“I am convinced that the collaborative efforts within the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space will lend support to all aspects of our cooperation and propel it to a whole new level.”