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Putin on urgent railway problemsOn 3 June, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with the delegates of the VI International Rail Business Forum “1520 Strategic Partnership” With each passing year, Mr Putin said, the forum increasingly positions itself as the top business event in the railway industry, increasing its geographic coverage to embrace not just the 1520 space countries, but many others as well. The discussion centered on developing the national railway system. Putin stressed the need to replace the entire railway network, removing narrow sections on the country’s major lines. “It is also necessary to expand the railway approaches to our key ports in the Far East, North West and Southern Russia,” the Prime Minister said. “Of course, we want to use Russia’s transit potential to the fullest extent, making the routes across our territory convenient and commercially inviting,” he added. Railway tariffs were also discussed at the meeting. Putin pointed out the need “to seek out a reasonable balance. We understand that the industry needs resources to develop, maintain and support its existing infrastructure, to buy new equipment, but increasing tariffs is dangerous both for the economy as a whole and for certain industries in particular.” “Railways should serve as a powerful consolidator for the entire Eurasian market. We are ready for partnership and cooperation,” he concluded. Yours truly, |
Letters of support
Vladimir Putin, The Prime Minister of the Russian Federation It is my pleasure to greet all participants and guests of this forum. 
Vladimir Yakunin, "Russian Railways" JSC On behalf of Russian Railways I would like to welcome the organisers and participants of the 6th International Railway Business Forum Strategic Partnership 1520. 
Igor Levitin, Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation On behalf of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation and on my own behalf, I welcome the participants and guests of the 6th International Railway Business Forum “Strategic Partnership 1520”. 
Dr. Hans-Jörg Grundmann, "Siemens AG" On behalf of Siemens, I would like to cordially welcome the participants and organizers of the 6th International Rail Business Forum "Strategic Partnership 1520"! 
Dr. Rüdiger Grube, "Deutsche Bahn AG" Now for the third time in a row, Deutsche Bahn AG is proud to take part in the "1520 Strategic Partnership" International Railway Forum as an official international partner. 
Oleg Sienko, "Uralvagonzavod" JSC On behalf of the staff of the “Uralvagonzavod” corporation I have got a great pleasure to greet you on the international business forum being an effective instrument to implement our common tasks. 
Gennady Talashkin, "RZDstroy" OJSC For the sixth time already this communication ground gathers the leaders of the railway industry with the only main goal – to contribute to developmentof business cooperation and to improve competitiveness of the transport infrastructures of the partners by the wide gage line. 
Alexandr Shokhin, President of Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs On behalf of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs I congratulate you on the opening of the VI International Rail Business Forum “1520 Strategic Partnership”. |