Russian President Putin’s ＂live connection＂ talked about six major issues.
According to Russian media reports, at 12: 00 local time on April 14th (17: 00 Beijing time), Russian President Vladimir Putin made a live connection with the public at the Moscow Commercial Stack Exhibition Center to answer questions about society, people’s livelihood, internal affairs and diplomacy that people are interested in. Major TV stations and radio stations in Russia broadcast the annual "Direct Connection with Putin" program live. In addition, this year will also be the first live video call.
BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua)-According to comprehensive Russian media reports, on the 14th local time, Putin launched a "live connection" activity with the public in Moscow Commercial Stack Exhibition Center in 2016. It is reported that this is the 14th time Putin has launched this activity. During this period, he answered various questions raised by people all over the country. People from different classes were invited to the studio hall. This year, in addition to inviting a large number of government officials for the first time, including state governors and heads of federal government administrative departments, Putin will also conduct live video calls for the first time.
It is reported that this year’s "live broadcast" lasted for 3 hours and 40 minutes. During this period, Putin answered more than 75 questions. When connecting, Crimea, Sakhalin, Voronezh, Tomsk and Tula all have access. There were 2.5 million questions, about 2,500 questions per minute.
Putin talks about Russia’s current economic situation: GDP will decline by 0.3% and unemployment rate will remain at 5.6%
At the beginning of this year’s "live connection", Putin first talked about the current situation of the Russian economy, and said that the Russian economy is expected to grow by 1.4% in 2017, the export of Russian high-tech products will increase, and the international reserves have returned to the level of early 2014.
Putin said that the government believes that Russia’s GDP will decline by 0.3% in 2016, but it will increase next year. He said: "In 2015, our GDP fell by 3.7%. This year, the government believes that we will still experience a slight decline, but only 0.3%. It is expected to increase by 1.4% next year. "
When talking about the situation in the industrial field, Putin said: "We have increased industrial production. In February, we showed a growth trend for the first time, and the export of high-tech products was also growing compared with the export of natural resources. "
He also pointed out that Russia’s international reserves have now returned to the level of $387 billion at the beginning of 2014. He said that the funds of government reserve funds and national welfare funds have been slightly reduced, but their scale still accounts for 10.5% of the country’s GDP.
In addition, Putin added that if Russia will use the funds of the reserve fund as it did last year and does not inject new funds, the existing funds of the reserve fund will only last for four years.
When talking about the unemployment rate, Putin said that the current unemployment rate remains at a low level of 5.6%. Putin said: "Our unemployment rate remains at a low level of 5.6%. There is a small increase, but compared with before the crisis, the increase is very small. "
When answering questions about how to improve the Russian economy, Putin opposed the use of "printing presses" to revitalize the economy. He said: "The important thing is not to print money, but to change the economic structure. This is very complicated, but we have made progress in this regard. "
Putin talks about the situation in Syria: I hope Syria will adopt a new constitution and hold early elections.
When talking about the situation in Syria, Putin said that the Syrian army is now capable of launching a large-scale offensive, and stressed that the Syrian ceasefire mechanism should promote the political process of crisis resolution.
Putin said, "We have withdrawn most of our troops, but after our withdrawal, the Syrian army has the ability to launch a large-scale offensive with the support of China’s surplus military strength."
Putin also stressed that the ceasefire mechanism in Syria should contribute to the political process of crisis resolution.
He said: "It is necessary to adopt the constitution, hold consultations and let everyone sit at the negotiating table. Hold early elections on the basis of the constitution and get out of the crisis. "
However, Putin also pointed out that the Syrian opposition is trying to recover the positions lost before the ceasefire, and the Syrian army has not done so.
When answering the question of when the city of Aleppo was liberated, Putin pointed out that the situation in Aleppo is very complicated. He said, "There is the so-called armed opposition, and it is near ‘ National Front ’ This internationally recognized terrorist organization. It is difficult to separate them, they act differently. "
He added that "most of the people fighting on the ground are not Syrian troops, but Coudre organizations and several other armed groups".
Putin on Turkey: Still a Russian Friend
In this "live connection", some people asked Putin about Russia’s attitude towards Turkey. Putin said that Russia regards Turkey as a friendly country, but there are some problems with individual political activists in Turkey.
Putin said: "Our relations with neighboring countries are generally good. We regard Turkey as our friend and the Turkish people are our friendly people. There is no doubt that we will build the best good-neighborly and friendly relations with the Turkish people. However, we have some problems with some political activists in Turkey. We think their behavior is improper, so we respond to it in a corresponding way. "
But Putin also pointed out that the current Turkish leadership is not so much fighting militants as cooperating with them. He said that southern Turkey was actually engaged in a civil war with heavy weapons, and the security of Russians in Turkey was not guaranteed.
Putin talks about Ukraine: many provisions of Minsk agreement have not been implemented
Some netizens talked about the Ukrainian issue and asked: "Will there be another war in Donbass?" Putin responded that many provisions of the Minsk agreement in Ukraine have not been implemented.
Putin said that if American friends want us to solve problems in this way, they should exert influence on their partners in Kiev.
Putin talks about relations with western countries: the United States should not be arrogant and sanctions against Russia will continue
When talking about Russia-US relations, Putin said that Russia and the United States now have good cooperation cases, including on the issue of combating terrorism. He also stressed that the United States should not rely on hegemony and be arrogant, and should respect its partners, including Russia.
Some netizens talked about the US presidential election that is now in full swing and asked Putin, "Who is worse for Russia, Trump or Hillary?" Putin replied: "I want to find a better one."
Later, Putin questioned the change mechanism of the US government. For example, he said that the Bush and Clinton families have dominated American politics for decades. Putin said: "First, George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, and then George W. Bush, the 43rd president, are all family members. The 42nd President Clinton was re-elected for two terms. Now his wife Hillary Clinton is running for the presidency, and the Clintons may be in power again. So where is the regime substitutability? " But he thinks that this is not bad, and this situation has both advantages and disadvantages.
When talking about the sanctions imposed by western countries on Russia, Putin believes that the West will not lift the sanctions against Russia in the near future, but he also stressed that if the West continues to impose sanctions, Russia will also extend the anti-sanctions measures.
Putin talks about terrorism: it still poses a threat to Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said during the "live connection" with the people that the threat posed by terrorism to Russia still exists.
Putin said: "If the anti-terrorism issue is not given due attention, the danger will always exist. We see that this danger and this plague have caused many countries around the world to suffer greatly, including the Middle East, Asia, the United States and European countries. As for Russia, I don’t need to talk about it. Everyone knows what terrorism is, and we have suffered great losses in counter-terrorism. This threat still exists. "
There are many wonderful moments in the question and answer, and Putin’s witty remarks are continuous.
Because in the "live connection", the Russian people can ask questions to Putin in various ways, so in the question-and-answer process, there are occasional relaxed and interesting or unprepared questions, but Putin patiently answers them one by one.
Some people asked Putin what he saved most. Putin said that he had started to save time because of the difficult domestic economic situation. Putin said: "This is the most precious thing we have."
Later, when Putin was connected with the Kerch Strait Bridge site, some people asked him what he wanted to do most in his leisure time. Putin said: "I haven’t thought about it yet, but I will definitely go to Crimea, and I may stay there for a few days, including going on vacation. Thank you for your invitation. "
As it was broadcast live, there were many unexpected situations on the scene. Gatchena residents asked Putin questions about the remarriage of former Russian First Lady lyudmila and when there would be a first lady in Russia. Putin said, "I have a good relationship with lyudmila. Everything is fine with her, and everything is fine with us. " Putin said: "People choose the Duma or the president in order to better serve the country. My personal life here is an unimportant issue. "
Then someone asked Putin what three wishes he would realize if he caught the little goldfish in the fairy tale The Fisherman and the Goldfish. Putin replied that instead of counting on fairy tale characters and expecting miracles, it is best to work hard on your own.
In addition, some people asked who would be saved first if Turkish President Erdogan and Ukrainian President poroshenko both fell into the water. Putin replied that it is impossible to save people who don’t want to be saved. Putin said: "If someone decides to jump into the river and commit suicide, it is impossible to save him. We are ready to extend an olive branch to any of our partners if they want to be saved. Russia will lend a helping hand to any partner in trouble if the other party wants assistance. "
Putin pointed out that "I am engaged in sports and strive not to get sick" when answering "whether to take domestic or imported medicine" on the "live connection".
Putin said in response to a question from a 9-year-old girl in St. Petersburg about whether she likes porridge, "I have never been forced to do something I don’t like. Regarding porridge, I am very happy to drink porridge every morning, and I also drank it today. "
In response to whether the president’s attitude towards porridge has changed, Putin replied that he loves to drink more. Putin also joked that "the fewer teeth, the more you like to drink porridge."
When asked whether he would continue to run for the presidency, Putin said that he had not made a decision on the issue of participating in the 2018 election, but he would decide whether to participate in the 2018 presidential election according to his work performance.