Putin: Sanctions harm us, their initiators
SINGAPORE. Nov 15 (Interfax) - Political restrictions of any kind hinder cooperation in the economies both of Russia and of their initiators, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a press conference on Thursday.
"Any politically motivated decisions that spread into the economic field hinder economic growth. They harm us and our partners, including those who impose these sanctions," Putin said at the end of his visit to Singapore.
"Yet they cannot stop development; this is ruled out, this is impossible. Neither technological nor economic development [can be stopped]," he said.
"So cooperation will go on," Putin said.
Asia account for about 25% of Russia's trade, and last year, trade grew 27% to about $200 billion, he said.
"The trade turnover has been on the rise, and relations are developing in every area," Putin said.