Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to Kemerovo Region
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, on a working trip to the Siberian Federal District, visited the Polosukhinskaya Mine in the Kemerovo Region and talked to the miners. He also inspected residential housing for miners, chaired a meeting of the Government's Commission for Regional Development as well as inspected the West Siberian Iron & Steel Works and met with Kemerovo Region Governor Aman Tuleyev.
At the meeting, Mr Putin and Mr Gertsy discussed the work of the state employment service, including the implementation of a programme to stabilise the situation on the labour market.
First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov chaired the 2008 Government Award in Education ceremony
“Education has been brought to the fore – it became a national priority,” Mr Zubkov stressed in his speech at the ceremony.
After the discussion the Commission recommended to the Government to temporarily extend (for 9 months) the current regime of duty-free import of some goods into the Russian Federation.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany
"We have developed a good tradition, which has proven successful and effective. We use a similar mechanism in relations with Germany, France, China and several other countries. It was a wise decision to hold extended consultations."
"As for the prospects of bilateral cooperation, I would like to say that they are not limited to energy or trade and economic relations. It is important to enhance our scientific, cultural and educational ties."
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chaired the Government meeting
"We have made a calculated decision to use the available reserves on a large scale, despite a drop in budget revenues, so as to fully adhere to the Government's social commitments and to fund anti-crisis measures."
"We certainly discussed major projects, including South Stream, and have attended relevant document signings concerning the construction of the Hungarian stretch of South Stream and of a major underground gasholder in Hungary with a capacity of more than a billion cubic metres."
“During 2009 all the plans for the production of pork and poultry meat will be fulfilled, the credit resources will be made available and the investment projects implemented in 2007-2008 suggest that the production of pork and poultry meat can grow by 8%,” Mr Shuvalov said.