welcome to sophie and co i'm sophie shevardnadze and wild later on today global business elite are coming to gather to sinclair's work international economic forum in a few days' time and it calls a boycott should there be a worry on the carswell ask mr pease close official spokesperson of russian president vladimir putin. it's always a pleasure to have you on our program my pleasure so we get a big event coming up same petersburg international economic forum but this series getting a lot of bad press and west and there are calls to boycott the forum what does it really mean les what is the aim of the boycott does the forum feel and the fact

well i i don't share your view. and i think that you are overly exaggerating the situation but yes we've heard a statement by american ambassador in moscow. and he said that he was going to boycott the forum but it doesn't mean that it will be boycotted by representatives of the companies including those from the united states of america they come in they come in worse most of them traditionally they take part in forum and then they're going to continue this practice it's $75.00 countries. $270.00 companies from all over the world will be taking place importing this form all in all it's about it's about $15000.00 people are going to take part so it's both international participants foreign participants and local ones have to be very creative these days. judging upon news coming from newspapers.

most frequently it cannot be considered as genuine news and you have been you have to be very careful while treating this news so. this kind of forms cannot be boycott you cannot create a vacuum. because if you create a vacuum from certain companies this very difficult immediately may companies coming from the other from other some different countries and all countries are pretty aware of that fact and they're very careful not to let in not letting this vacuum to happen on the forum so they're all very active and even proactive in participating in free and this forum it's very interesting it's very representative. despite certain problems with the international economic environment still the russian market is very attractive we're going to talk about

it kind of a little bit later than that's not climate but i want to talk 1st about the political climate in germany this last years for what was pretty intense political climate that the u.s. russia relations were deteriorating new sanctions were coming in because of this crippled case what about this year would you say it's more welcoming or has it gotten worse. well it's welcoming it every year. because it already does enter a letter with our business as those who are standing behind organizers of the 4 is to ensure our counterparts that the climate here for investments for economic cooperation is favorable and comfortable and we were doing business. some of the countries. they unfortunately they choose the way of. trying to show the opposite picture i would say it's some some signs of unfair

competition from there and. but it doesn't mean that this forum is tense well yes i was of the participants they would say that it's quite a golden opportunity for them to establish contacts to continue the dialogue the reason he's in russia so. every year every year we see some some some part is who are doing their best. to blackmail this this forum but in the end we see quite a successful happening so the big story that everyone's talking about and it's sort of current side it was. is there rest of the american investment investor michael crowley it happened 30 years ago during another investment forum so that's why the american ambassador he said we're not coming so he was put in prison now he's on home arrest yeah it's much better but does this mean that american

pressure is working their boycotting the forum and he's in house arrest doesn't mean that american businessmen are going to participate they're going to come created and then the majority of them have. confirmed in reconfirmed their participation. it comes to. this case it's it's very unfortunate case and we have very story about that. of course we would we would like to see michael among the participants of the forum because he's being quite an active player in russian markets and since the end more than 15 years so that's why . we all know him as is a very trustful businessman and devoted to russian market and probably you know the news that he actually asked. us to participate for

permission to participate and is there any chance i don't know i don't know i'm not in the permit for that. of course i would prefer to see him among the participants but i don't think. we are and i told some to it. to me and to give any definitive into the case of my i don't really know and run into a lot of case about that michel call you right it's not up to me or you to decide whether it's fair or not there are other prominent structures who will decide if he's guilty or not talking about. their reaction to the case from for investors for instance patrick plenty of the c.e.o. of the tight he's also throwing his weight behind this french partner if he hadn't been who is in prison on home arrest there was a meeting between french businessmen and president putin

a couple of months ago and. this french citizen and my college it was reason during the meeting by the participants. and mr pool and there was among them so they received all the necessary explanation by president putin you know the explanations about the nature of the case but his play explanation that. this is a case in a strict accordance with the russian laws and we do we do hold the end those gentlemen will be freed but. nothing is being done voluntarily so it's a law in russia and you have. you have to agree with it or you have to follow this law talk to me please about the reaction because the case i mean it is what it is once again it's not up to me to say it's right or wrong or you but president always saying and you're always saying that we're very open and will do everything in our

powerful for a masters in this not to come and have confortable conditions to work in our country but what are those promises worse if what they see on t.v. is how for investors are being arrested. this in this situation is actually should be treated this way. lots of businessmen are protesting this case because they think that it's a purely purely trade dispute that should be solved in arbitron not in a criminal court or not through a criminal investigation. so we have to wait until the investigation is over and if it is proven that this is not a trade dispute. then everything that is being done is correct this is the case and. we have to be patient we have to be patient we have to understand that.

those prosecutors those investigators should have very serious. reasons. to put those gentlemen in jail for the period of investigates present but unlike personally overlooking this. asks if he hears from his receiving information is receiving reports about because it's quite. loudly case it's quite a loud case. understands that it provokes lots of questions among party investors foreign investors but law is the law you have to obey. right so except american business and american asters there's more to the forum and china's president is coming and there is a lot of talk about how there's an agreement to synergize china's one about one road and russia as you are as economic union it's going to be a huge infrastructure project and in the western press that the hill is writing

that it's true that the sanctions actually. made it possible for china to invest more into russia and they're now talking about talent it has a ring to it what do you think of it are we really in for it well 1st of all of course it's very attractive project it's actually it's kind of a loss of evidence not a project it's a compilation of huge projects that are on in mind. our chinese partners brochure is not participating directly. as a country that is. looking for integration with this project and in these so that extend that is compatible with this project. of course chinese not investing. a lot cannot say that chinese investing a lot in russian economy. very huge space for for. a large

amount of this both ends of investments of chinese businessmen so indeed we do that with the time being those investments would rise. china is a very close partner with russia and then we cooperate successfully. means . that we we do it successfully means that the volume or 2 of our trade is constantly rising. none depending on international environment. international economic environment we have been planning to achieve. to achieve a goal and one of 100000000000 u.s.d. . and it was even a little bit higher and 107000000000 u.s.d. well if you compare it with the with the balance between the states in china it's

quite a humble them. but nonetheless for 4 we're already caught i mean for for size of our economy it's a very significant amount china is not a partner of number one for us yet steel e.u. countries our trade partners number one with us and. i cannot share the. risk for those who say that it's a turn of russia eastwards no russia i hope will never turn eastwards you know russian egoless is looking to both sides west words in the east towards this is the nature of. every every every. dimension of you know a policy of russia let it be a political power the diplomatic all activities or economic ones but then take a short break right now where that will continue talking to dmitry peskov question

present liner picking his official spokesperson talking about st petersburg economic forum coming up in a few days cause of boycott u.s. russia relations and new sanctions stay with us. what politicians do such as an addict. they put themselves on the line to get accepted or rejected. so when you want to be president or injury. or something want to be. that's it life to be close it's like the forest tree in the morning can't be

good that i'm interested always in the waters of the hottest. there shouldn't it. be because the swarm see the blue of them so moving. to build your hoover local was before. much of those who heard it's a preview of the few other movies who've seen him will. we will see will. move. move food but it. will show you the snooper you will to live the media those who look for a good. movie the muslim also in the gulf will give you films for good pool for. the good go to school so look why do you disagree you believe it's good to there should go. postal votes to some it's needed so it was

a little missed dates to look at is it's. just us to understand statistics not it's a mesh told. to stop the president and the speech from this morning until it's. the basis of your producers to post this word to snippets almost when you look at those the girls are with you.

and we're back with the. press secretary. i've heard you say that even though chinese are very close partners with russia they're often very cautious in relations with russia in dealing with russian businesses and. chinese banks are sometimes refusing to serve russian customers allies 1st because they're afraid of the american sanctions so when you think about it does it mean that the fact. china economic relations are dependent. on washington well everything is interdependent in this world and of the countries are free there are moves in their decisions every country have to balance and rebalance their activities in the field of economy because we are all interdependent so this way yes of course we can feel an influence of american sanctions you know by that relationship but at the same time at the same time we are sober enough to take those steps which are being

considered of extremely extremely important for us and of course lead the. mention of my literally economic relations between russia and china. well is a very significant mention for the global economy but would you say that western sanctions against russia are also. taking its toll on how chinese can invest in russia chaney's make business in russia. businessman they are very careful you know all the countries not only in china and every businessman has to keep in mind all the factors all the elements that can influence their future so some chinese businessmen prefer to be more careful some of them are more proactive and there are that is some of them are waiting some of them are building factories automotive

factories in russia and one of those will be you know greeted during the visit of presidency in moscow would you say that we're not talking just chinese businessmen or investors and we're seeing general. people have found ways to go around sanctions and found loopholes and sanctions to actually do their business as usual with my shop not really well of course they're resisting difficult there is a certain certain influence of sanctions for for. various international but tangible investors in russia but then businessmen who can potentially launch their business here yes some of them or would prefer to be more cautious and then we can be in their case we can speak about negative campaigns of sanctions. but not necessarily all of them preferred to keep in mind the

existing sanctions so to the contrary would try would try to take advantage. overlong took a reluctant behavior of the to take advantage of the opening markets here. and also a regardless actions russia still been a huge projects energy projects like the nordstrom to gas pipeline in germany and we'll know how americans are reacting to it they're saying the companies that are involved in this project from the german side will actually be sanctioned and the sanctions will be so hard that it will be difficult to swallow right now in germany's very firm they're saying we don't really care we need this project and we're going through with it not only germany by the way and. the president of all. those but. you know like i just remember how outraged all

of the you was when america in large had sanctions against iran but at the end of the day most of the companies largely are you know obliged to withdrawal from iran even if they don't want to so when it comes to north stream to you. what are your thoughts are you like confident that it's going to go through the huge international project. that we've seen on the brink and before it started it. that is being performed for for the benefit of those countries supplying natural gas and receiving. the project there would be a very significant contribution for energy. and the project that is a huge competitor and very serious competitor for american gas producers and suppliers. in the senate the main reason of course instead of for.

competition they prefer to buy wild west time. so they just show the gun and this is no no you guys here in europe you're going to buy our natural gas and we don't care that it is at least 30 percent more expensive than the gas coming from the russians this is the case. so one talk a little bit put in and trump because last meeting between the 2 presidents were cancelled in less than 24 hour notice in argentina you said well now it's off to washington to arrange the next sit down question is. is moscow right now in sort of a wait and see position is it how does it make you feel i mean i understand that this is a wise decision because it's better to talk the not to talk but like when trump

cancels that meeting and then eventually that it happens does it get under your skin that washington you know reserves the right for this sort of winks. you know that from the very beginning of the presidency of president trump. oh a president who was expressing a red in this. who established a good relationship with washington to try to repair the damage that was done by president obama during the last months of his presidency. and from the very beginning president putin insisted that we were we were ready to . do it had as long as advanced as our american counterparts arrayed it. unfortunately now we see that they're not ready to advance at all. but president putin is quite. experienced and quite

patient president and quite a patient country so it doesn't take a circumstance where he doesn't feel like it's disrespectful that you know americans oh no we don't want to meet ok now we want to meet. we want to meet. we see lots of questions of strategic questions and they gend that should be tackled on the level of 2 presidents there's no way to put those problems to be solved on a lower level. we understand that lots of questions are coming from americans. that are also should be discussed by the president and when to stand those problems are idling. in absence of the dialogue on the highest level. so not meeting each other is logic and it contradicts with the. nation's interests to countries. but we cannot be the. i don't know the proper english prover

put more hold in the pope. so that. president putin has said that he was going to eat just the way trump talks about putting in his very sympathetic and very respectful and then it just all the is that he likes the man but then people who surround him are completely the opposite and their views are completely opposite of sympathetic towards the russian president so a lot of people saying well while the miller investigation was going on of course trumps hands were tied he couldn't make a move towards russia and now that there is no evidence of pressures interference on a government level and american elections it's going to be easier to to to be nice to put in and to sit down and talk and not really care about what people around him say do you feel like this meeting g 20 summit is going to be any different from others. first of all we still don't know whether the meeting is going to take place

not because it wasn't initiated officially by the americans. but wasn't mike. in sochi and sort of a no he wrote he wasn't he was in sochi and he was speaking about a potential willingness to have the meeting but this is not a reason for a meeting to take place you have to initiate it if some. so just who had it never happened the. first. being a press secretary for the president of the russian federation i can speak when he's be fully behind and they can tell you one thing when president putin says something he means it. and when he means something he does it. this is what i know for sure 100 percent so conclusion is that if trump is willing and contrary to your own then that as him. all right i have one last

question that has nothing to do with anything which is spoken about but it's very relevant for most of the russians the so-called sovereign an internet bill that's coming into action november it's coming into force so this is a legislation that same to allow russian internet to continue working in case russia is completely cut off from the global infrastructure. but people ask both until a people who are in the business are saying it's physically impossible to do that i mean i don't know that's what they're saying to you as representatives of russian government have a reason to think that someone is trying to cut us off from the global internet wherever the reason to think we faced american sanctions would face some threats coming from international trade organizations from from from american trade organizations not international. because what they did was illegal you

know were illegal from the point of view of international law. it would probably remember the. potential threats coming from international bam and systems i'm not naming one right now with i'm not naming them. you remember that so there were some talks about a possibility of cutting off that systems. now we see a situation when for example one operational system. is saying that they would cut off. cheney's company from their products i'm speaking about this trade war with. him between america and chinese producers of. communication devices. so when we witness these trade wars it we witness those threats we

witness results of those illegal actions when we see what is going on. here on what is going on these every china. what happened. here russia in the near past so when when to stand we have to be self-sufficient we have to be sober and you know our capacities. this is also a place before for the internet. internet is and. is an international. environment but unfortunately we're living in a world of. where where international law can be jeopardized by certain countries we have to take measures of precaution for. there was a time when they were saying thank you very much. for

the project was good for you you don't run your bird flu like if you miss it or don't blame people but. none of them want the response to mold cheaper food in the indoor. given our school says i should leave a model which agrees that. this before this new the no close you you presume this loop i'm going to museums she has to move him he's doing that in both of us

and i was feeling as we continue going to jane boney is meaning the very least you kind of treat. me no you are never going. to. be as good as you look to you know what who are you more you would almost today because of. the whole truth in doing. some good you'll meet someone who knows the lure. of the. winds and also a way of. u.s. president donald trump is welcomed by the queen is see him on a 3 day state visit to britain before stirring up controversy and attracting crowds apprentice to its. southern.