16 December 2003 06:04
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov on Tuesday said Russia will proceed with its oil pipeline project in Eastern Siberia not only from political and geopolitical perspectives but also from an economic viewpoint.
Kasyanov, who is in charge of economic affairs, made the remarks at an informal gathering sponsored by the Japan
Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), the nation's main business lobby.
Japan and China have been lobbying for separate pipeline routes for access to Russian oil.
Japan hopes Russia will build a pipeline from Angarsk near Lake Baikal to Nakhodka on Russia's Pacific coast, a
route that would allow Russia to ship oil not only to Japan but also to other Asian nations and the United States.
China wants a pipeline from Angarsk to Daqing in the northern province of Heilongjiang, a shorter route that would
save construction costs but make it difficult for Moscow to export oil to nations other than China.
On other topics, Kasyanov stressed the need for Russia to increase the weight of its manufacturing industry in terms
of gross domestic product and called for local production by Japanese automakers.
Hiroshi Okuda, chairman of Nippon Keidanren, told the meeting it is Japanese companies' policy to make products
in consumer markets and noted that Japanese automakers will invest in Russia in the future.
Okuda, also chairman of Toyota Motor Corp., did not elaborate.
Kasyanov arrived in Tokyo on Monday for a three-day visit.
[AIW [Asia Africa Intelligence Wire]] |
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