Vladimir Putin and Alexander Zhilkin discussed the development of Astrakhan, particularly engineering protection of the city, moving people out of decrepit and unsafe housing, drinking water, and the work of the new medical centre.

Vladimir Putin and Yuri Osipov discussed the activities of the Russian Academy of Sciences, notably the publication of the National Encyclopedia and the problems of equipment and housing for young scientists.

The meeting was devoted to the social and economic situation in the Altai Territory, particularly the issues of local agriculture and industry, as well as unemployment and the obligations to support economically disadvantaged population.

"I'd like to inform you that we have practically finished work on a $500 million loan to Armenia. We are fulfilling our agreements. All that remains to be done is to have the budget approved by the State Duma, our parliament."

The meeting’s participants coordinated a list of equipment on which a 5% import customs duty is to be introduced to support Russian producers.

The participants in the meeting approved the format of the Expert Council and elected Andrei Batalov, deputy director general of the Moscow Kremlin State Museum, as head of the Council.

"Our anti-crisis measures are being implemented. We have succeeded in maintaining stability in the banking system and have therefore created pre-requisites for once again issuing loans to domestic industries. Although such loans are still insufficient, this process is picking up momentum."

The meeting discussed the preliminary results of the bank’s work in 2008. Opening the meeting of the Supervisory Board Mr Zubkov noted that “Rosselkhozbank significantly increased the rate of crediting in connection with the growth of its capital in 2008”.