Question: What effect have the foreign policy efforts of Russia had on the international positions of the Russian economy and business? Has it been possible to provide them more comfortable conditions at the international level? What was being done for that and what have you managed to achieve? What has yet to be worked at?

Answer: Two interconnected processes are developing in this field at present. On one hand, the improved economic situation in the country has a beneficial effect on its international positions. On the other, a reciprocal process has been going on: through an active foreign policy we are trying to create the most favorable conditions for further economic growth and the activity of Russian business.

Work in the area of "economic diplomacy" is being carried out at all levels. The last few years saw not a single visit of the President or the Minister of Foreign Affairs to foreign countries in the course of which meetings were not held with the representatives of the business circles of a country for heightening their interest in cooperation with Russia. But this is only the visible part. This kind of work is being carried out on a regular basis, of course, in close cooperation with other government departments and the leaderships of Russia's regions. For example, last year alone at the MFA Press Center we held presentations of the economic capabilities of 20 subjects of the Russian Federation. The same job is also being done by our embassies. In particular, such a presentation of the Northwestern Federal District was held in London and Berlin.

All in all, in an incomplete year we have held almost five hundred economic forums, exhibitions, roundtables and business seminars on economic topics. And this was under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs alone.

Of course, the main thrust in our "economic diplomacy" has been the creation of the most favorable conditions for Russia's integration into the world economy. 2002 was highly productive in this regard. It is enough to recall the decisions of the United States and the European Union to recognize the market status of the Russian economy, which will be very helpful for national business. During the year the credit rating of Russia was raised several times. All of this is in many respects the product of the new atmosphere of trust and partnership in our relations with the US and the EU. This circumstance also plays an important role in the negotiations which we are conducting on Russia's entry into the WTO. It is our task to provide the most acceptable terms for the entry of the country into this organization.

Russian diplomacy is also vigorously promoting the energy dialogue with the US and the EU and seeking the creation of a common economic space in Europe. Especially as already soon - after the EU enlargement - it will account for half of our trade. And here a whole array of specific trade-and-economic questions arise which it is necessary to solve via diplomatic channels, among others.

The same also holds for economic relations with other countries and regions. For example, our trade with China has already come close to the 12-billion-dollar mark. Large-scale industrial and technological cooperation projects are being carried out with India and a number of other states. Behind all this is likewise diplomatic work, both on the formation of a general political framework of economic cooperation and on diplomatic support of concrete projects; among them, for example, the construction of a trans-European gas pipeline across the bottom of the Baltic Sea, as well as the implementation of the famous Blue Stream project.

But does it mean that all the problems have been solved? Not, of course. Considering the nature and scale of the economic tasks facing our country, there's heaps of work to be done here. For example, our diplomacy has amassed a definite experience in work with large companies. Now to provide effective support for small and medium-sized businesses is something that we still have to learn, especially as this is a problem of not only foreign, but also of internal economic policy. In these questions we are actively cooperating with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and various small and medium-sized business associations.

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