Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting on the development of the Arctic region this week that Russia is facing large-scale tasks in the Arctic and will need to strengthen transport and logistics infrastructure, protect a fragile ecosystem and ensure comfortable living conditions in the region.
"In the Arctic, in this strategic and important region, we are facing complex and large-scale tasks. We must strengthen transport and logistics infrastructure, expand economic and business opportunities, and ensure the protection of the sensitive ecosystems of the Arctic," TASS quoted the Russian leader as saying.
President Vladimir Putin added that it is necessary to continuously improve the urban environment, improve the quality of settlements in the north and improve the quality of life in general, so that residents in urban areas in the Arctic region "can have interesting, good jobs and get high salaries, as well as access modern education along with health care services, making the Arctic a truly comfortable and attractive place to live".
According to RT, at the 6th International Polar Forum in Murmansk, President Putin also called on participants to come up with specific plans to develop the Northern Sea Route.
Andrey Chibis - Governor of Murmansk region - also emphasized the importance of developing this trade route into a "long and strong corridor" for the Arctic territories to be the basis for "the next major step forward of the economy in the future".
This year's International Arctic Forum is held with the theme "Living in the North". This theme expresses the desire to create a comfortable living environment in the harsh conditions of the North while emphasizing the strategic importance of this region.
The 6th International Arctic Forum also aims to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the opening of the Northern Sea Road. Over the past 9 years, Russia has made significant progress in modernizing this route, attracting significant investment from countries such as India and China.
