I would like to start
with my personal vision of Vladivostok, and explain
why the APEC forum was held in Vladivostok instead
of another other Russian city.
The idea of conducting the APEC forum in Vladivostok
was born here, in this office. I pursued several
goals. One of them, the most important, was that
I wanted the world to know more and become more
attentive to Vladivostok. Taking into account the
huge distances of the Russian Federation (it takes
9 hours to travel from Moscow to Vladivostok by
plane, or 7 days by train), the proximity of Vladivostok
to China and Pacific Rim countries, as well as the
transport links which connects us through the ports
- Vladivostok is the ideal place for to act as a
bridge between Russia and Pacific Rim countries
including the USA, Canada, Australia New Zealand,
Philippine, South and North Korea and China.
The city Vladivostok has 5 clear characteristics:
deepwater ports, unfrozen port, air communication,
railway communication and highway communication
with the whole world. This is a unique city - unique
in Russia. Neither Novorossiysk, nor Kaliningrad,
nor Northern ports, Kamchatka or Sakhalin have such
characteristics. Traditionally such directions as
higher education, science, and industry have also
been centered and have been developing here. Moreover,
it is the biggest city in the Far East.
I have managed to involve the regional administration
of Primorsky Krai, to involve Moscow and to persuade
the government of Russian Federation that it is
necessary to conduct the APEC forum in Vladivostok.
Through the creation of a National Organization
committee, we led the way with the Russian government
and governments of other countries to ensure the
success of APEC in Vladivostok.
In this view, the APEC forum was a success. What
are some of your plans to increase the international
links of Vladivostok to Pacific Rim countries?
While preparing the forum, we prepared concrete
investment projects for Vladivostok. Try to imagine
the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Singapore -
all ships in need of fresh water, products, fuel
or oil come in to Singapore. Most Japanese, US,
Indian, New Zealand or Australian ships have decided
that filling stations, bunker stations on fuel-oil
and fresh water must be built in Singapore.
Vladivostok is a similar refueling base for the
region, yet unlike Singapore, it has railway communication
with the entire world: both Europe, Asia. We have
more advantages than Singapore, but in Northern
Hemisphere.
My goal of is to create a metropolis of international
importance. Vladivostok can get the status of special
economic zone - a duty free zone which will enable
the flow of cargo to Russia and from Russia through
our ports. All cargoes go through Trans Siberian
railway: coal, metal, wood and so on. There is no
other route, so I believe that it is time to pay
attention to Vladivostok.
The industrial base of Vladivostok economy has
to be developed as well. What is your strategy to
make it more attractive for foreign investors and
to make Vladivostok the real center of the Far East?
In the Soviet Union there were five-year plans,
ten-year plans and the country was directed by CPSU.
We had a State plan, a Board of Ministers and so
on. So there was system of planning, perspective
planing.
When I became Mayor of Vladivostok, the system of
planning for five yeas did not exist any more, so
I made the planning of Vladivostok's economy the
basis of my life. I asked the following questions:
What kind of city Vladivostok should be? How should
it develop? This helped to establish a guiding line,
and concrete plan. My plan will be finish in 2004
- by the end of my election term. Now we are planning
for the city's development up until the year 2010.
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We foresee for 100 years
before the development of transport communication,
thermal communication, housing communication, industry,
water supply, energy, port development is fulfilled.
At the present moment the plan is 40-45% fulfilled,
so we are focused on the final target.
Having said this, we are also solving direct problems
which are necessary on a day-to-day basis, relying
upon our own strength. I am working on the problem
of gas transfer from Sakhalin to Vladivostok, through
Khabarovsk, and we have one more project of oil
transfer from Siberia to Vladivostok through an
oil-pipe line. We are also working to improve container
traffic development, rail roads, with additional
construction and additional port capacity, in the
context of the overall local and regional infrastructure.
What will Vladivostok look like in 10 years?
Today I know what Vladivostok will be in 2010. I
know how many schools and roads will be built, the
highway that will be build as well as the bridge
to the Russky island. I can exactly predict that
there will be more than 1 million citizens in Vladivostok
in 2010. Today the density of city is of about 700
thousand people. Additionally, the coastline will
be developed, as well as quays, ports and the ship
repair industry. As the mayor of Vladivostok I see
the full perspective of city development.
That is why, today we develop Vladivostok with specific
guidelines, and we are also focused on maintaining
friendly relations with neighbouring countries,
especially with China and Korea. That is why we
are developing trade relationships and transport
communications together. It will be profitable for
everybody, and it will be safer for our grand chidren
to live together, in peace.
Vladivostok is undergoing a facelift: repaired
roads, renovated buildings, new flowers and trees...
Is the image of the city also an important characteristic?
Of course the city must be beautiful. We are actively
developing tourism now and offering projects to
different countries. Many tour ships are arriving
to the ports of Vladivostok, and numerous consulates
are being opened. In the last six months of 2002,
five consulates have been opened, and all together
there are 16 of them in Vladivostok. The city is
becoming more and more popular, which is why I encourage
people to invest money to Vladivostok.
Russia has always been associated with an image
of the bear. But we are not bears. The City of Vladivostok
represents almost the whole economy of Primorsky
krai - it is the city of commerce, industry and
transport. So that is why there is water, light,
products and good people in Vladivostok.
Until recently you were President of the local
football team "Luch". What has the sport
of football taught you for your everyday life?
When I was elected mayor, the municipal sports teams
had been neglected, so I supported their revival.
We have created a municipal boat racing team that
became world champion in the boat "Dragon"
race competition among 112 teams. We have champions
in ship modeling. We have two champions in unarmed
self-defense (Sambo) and one champion in canoe-paddling.
And this are only the results of this year. We also
pay great attention to sports such as football and
volleyball. Although it is very difficult to support
everything from a financial point of view, we are
building sport constructions, repairing existed
ones like the "Dinamo" stadium, we are
building an ice palace on the "Stroitel"
stadium where there will be figure skating and ice
hokey. We are also developing rowing and sail sport.
As for me, I love water sports like windsurfing,
rowing - every evening I go rowing in the Sport
harbor - and I am also master of sport boxing.
You have so many responsibilities, so many events
to attend and so many sports to practice, do you
sleep sometimes?
It is very good question. Unfortunately I have no
more than 4 hours per day to sleep. If I could not
do sports, it will be too difficult for me. That
is why I keep on going! |
