We are expanding and improving the infrastructure of our relations. You must have heard about China's plans to participate in building a high-speed railway line between Moscow and Kazan in the Volga region, in central Russia. And then we plan to extend it to Kazakhstan and on to China.
Vladimir PutinWe handed over nothing, those territories [Tarabarov Island to China] were disputed and we have been negotiating this issue with the People's Republic of China, let me stress that, for 40 years, and finally managed to come to an agreement. One part of the territory was assigned to Russia, while another part - to the People's Republic of China.
Vladimir PutinNext year [2017], we are going to hold a series of events there that we would like to call Russian Seasons [in Japan]. Over 40 different activities - and what is more, in different cities.
Vladimir PutinDemocracy is an internal subject of the developing society. There are fundamentals of democracy, and they should be understood universally in different countries.
Vladimir PutinTheir [the U.S.โs] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russiaโs. This is what in defense is referred to as โtheir home โ their fortress.โ And good for them, I say. Well done!
Vladimir Putin