Putin expects world economy to reach sustainable development trend
MOSCOW. Oct 2 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes that the world economy will overcome a critical period in its development and will follow a sustainable development trend.
"I would really like to hope that we will overcome this period of misunderstanding and will reach a steady trend of world economy development. Russia will certainly be prepared to make its contribution to these common efforts," Putin said at VTB Capital's 6th Annual 'Russia Calling' Investment Forum on Thursday.
He discouraged the public from concentrating on the restrictions imposed on Russia, while acknowledging that this theme is in the spotlight now.
"Any restrictions that I've mentioned in brief in my presentation, the so-called sanctions, are certainly absolutely stupid of the governments that are restricting their businesses, hampering their operations, making them less competitive, and vacating niches on such a promising market as Russia for their competitors," he said.
Russia takes these measures calmly, Putin said. "It's a pity though that this violates fundamental principles of the WTO, the world economy, market-based economies, and competition and undermines confidence in international financial institutions and confidence in reserve currencies, the dollar and the euro," he said.
Putin said this all "causes long-term damage to the entire world economy, which is not visible at first sight."