Medvedev: Russian strategy in Asia natural response to global economic situation, not revenge on Europe
MOSCOW. Sept 19 (Interfax) - Russia could not help but have an active strategy for Asia, which will be a natural response to the global economic situation, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.
"Hopefully, everyone understands that our new strategy for Asia is not senseless revenge on Europe, as many Western policy experts choose to call it sometimes. This is a natural course of events and a measured response to the altering economic development conditions," Medvedev said at the Sochi Investment Forum on Friday.
Russia's policy had been targeting larger presence in the Asia Pacific region even in the previous period but its progress "fell short the required speed," he stressed.
"Being a country three quarters of whose territory lies in Asia, Russia cannot afford to lack an active and future-oriented strategy for the region," Medvedev stated.