Medvedev Makes the Rounds at the International Economic Forum

 

President Dmitry Medvedev speaking at the opening of the forum. The president sought to convince investors that the country's economy has stabilized and that Russia remained a good place for foreign investment

 

 

 

People listening to President Dmitry Medvedev speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg on Friday, June 5, 2009. Medvedev, opening the country's top business forum, said the global economy had avoided a fatal crash but warned participants that it was too early to celebrate recovery.

 

 

Medvedev shaking hands with the chairman of German natural-gas utility E.ON Rurhgas AG, Bernhard Reutersberg, after Reutersberg signed an agreement with Russia's state-controlled gas company Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, right, at the International Economic Forum. E.ON Rurhgas AG said Friday that it has signed a deal to complete the acquisition of a 25 percent stake in the Siberian Yuzhno Russkoye gas field from Gazprom OAO, wrapping up more than four years of preparation to co-own the strategic asset

 

 

Medvedev standing with Rusnano head Anatoly Chubais and St. Petersburg Mayor Valentina Matviyenko during the forum on Friday, June 5, 2009.

 

 

Medvedev greeting Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during their meeting at the forum. In the published transcript of their conversation released by the Kremlin, Arroyo noted that visitors to the Philippines from Russia and CIS countries provide the largest contribution in the world to the Philippines' tourism sector.

 

 

Medvedev, left, and Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin attending an event at the forum on Friday, June 5, 2009. Sechin warned Friday that oil could soar to $150 a barrel if the global economic crisis continued to curb investment in capacity by top producers.

Medvedev and Finland's President Tarja Halonen meeting during the forum on Friday, June 5, 2009. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin earlier this week said that Russia would return to talks with Finland over a planned increase in export duties on timber, which has been one of the main barriers to Moscow's recent efforts to join the World Trade Organization