Pursuant to the directive of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, issued after a working trip to Nizhniy Novgorod, the issue of giving support to the metallurgical industry was discussed.

"We now have a solid basis to support our new relationship, both for next year and for the long term."

"We have always proceeded from the premise that this project will create the necessary additional foundation for comprehensive socio-economic development of Eastern Siberia and the Far East. These regions abound in natural resources but need special attention of the government, more money, and higher business activity. This is exactly the project which will resolve this task."

"Our goal in the coming years must be to improve the performance of the basic, fundamental branches of the Russian economy: transport, fuel, energy, banking, farming, and others. We must make serious progress in building a system of national innovation, promote competition, and create reliable guarantees of ownership rights."

The key areas of the interaction between Independent Trade Unions and the Government, the problems of the development of the pension system and the new wage system in the budget sector were under discussion.