Russia turned to Asian partners – Medvedev

Western sanctions have encouraged Russia to work more actively with Asian partners, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said prior to this month’s EU summit in Brussels. The EU will then make a decision on anti-Russian sanctions.

“In economic terms, of course, all those sanctions, introduced against us, stimulated us to ensure more active cooperation with Asian countries. Thank you very much too all those states that have adopted them,” Medvedev said to reporters at XVII World Congress of Russian Press Thursday.Russia turned to Asia, as the West don’t give money and push Russian companies out of business, he added.

Russia’s choice of trading partners will be based on national interests, but the markets in the Asia-Pacific region and BRICS are of utmost importance, said the PM.

"Sixty percent of the world GDP is there. The whole global growth is mainly in the Asia-Pacific region and in the BRICS countries. Therefore, it is essential for us to gain a foothold in the partner states of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Asia-Pacific region,"said Medvedev.

However, Russia hasn’t closed the door to Europe, he added.