January 25, 2006, 11:07 Business

China is worse than terrorism

Alexander Polivanov The traditional January World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland opens on Wednesday morning. The Russian government is going to Switzerland to represent special economic zones, and business is going to ski.

This year, according to the forum’s press service, 2,340 participants from 89 countries came to Davos. Of these, 15 are heads of state or prime ministers. 735 people are executive directors of large companies.

Forum 2006 again pushed Russian issues into the background. The main topics this time are “The Emergence of China and India”, “Changing Economic Landscape”, “Creating New Jobs”, “New Orientations and Ways of Thinking” and “Regional Identity and Struggle”. All of them will be discussed over the next five days.

“Forum participants will discuss the influence of China and India on the global economy, as well as potential problems and challenges that India and China may face in reforming and modernizing their economic systems,” clarifies forum official Jonathan Schmidt. In particular, the issues of energy supply in China and India and the impact of demand for energy resources in these two countries on world markets will be discussed. The impact of a possible slowdown in China's economic growth on global growth prospects will also be analyzed.

Russia is touched upon by two of the topics stated in the preliminary program: “Is Russia turning to the East?” and “Russia and the world: scenarios for the period until 2025.” Within the framework of these topics, forum participants, in particular, will discuss the causes and consequences of the gas conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the issue of strategic priorities in Russian economic policy.

“Registration of participants began on Tuesday at two o’clock in the afternoon (at 16.00 Moscow time. - Gazeta.Ru ). We expect the main flow of participants on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning,” the forum’s press secretary told Gazeta.Ru the day before.

According to the press secretary, the forum will be served by a security force of 5.5 thousand people. That is, there are more than two guards for each participant.

As the press secretary said, this is a normal number for events of this level.

Unlike previous years, when the main Russian speaker in Switzerland was Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, this time the Russian government delegation at the forum will be led by the head of the Ministry of Economic Development, German Gref .

According to sources, Kudrin did not receive the go-ahead for his trip from his immediate superior, Mikhail Fradkov . However, the White House categorically rejected these accusations and said that Kudrin could well go to Davos. But Kudrin , apparently, was also not satisfied with this scenario.

The Ministry of Finance even announced that the disruption of Kudrin’s trip to Davos could seriously complicate the negotiations that Russia is conducting in preparation for its presidency of the G8.

German Gref is going to Davos with a report on special economic zones, which are starting to operate in Russia this year. Since they are formed in Russia to attract, first of all, foreign investment, the speech in Davos will be of particular importance. also The head of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade plans to negotiate with at least 12 global corporations that can invest in the SEZ.

Behind-the-scenes meetings will be no less important for German Gref. The minister will try to convince his colleagues from 8 countries that have not yet signed agreements with Russia on our entry into the World Trade Organization to do so in the near future and on acceptable terms. Also, as Gref said, he will discuss the project of creating business schools in Moscow and St. Petersburg - Vladimir Putin set this task among other “national projects.”

At the last moment, the trip to Davos of the head of RAO UES of Russia Anatoly Chubais, who was detained in Moscow by frost, was canceled. According to representatives of the press service, RAO UES of Russia Chubais will remain in charge of the headquarters for the operation of the energy system during the cold period.

Top managers are definitely expected from Russian big business in Davos: President of LUKoil Vagit Alekperov , Head of the Board of Directors of Wimm-Bill-Dann David Yakobashvili , President of IBS Group Anatoly Karachinsky , Head of the Board of Directors of NLMK Vladimir Lisin , Head of the Board of Directors " Severstal" Alexey Mordashov , head of the board of directors of Sual-Holding Viktor Vekselberg . The trip was also confirmed to Gazeta.Ru by Vladimir Yevtushenkov , President of AFK Sistema, through his press secretary.

LUKoil told Gazeta.Ru that Vagit Aleksperov is already a traditional representative of Russian business at the forum. “There are no plans for a separate speech by our head. But meetings will be held with a number of colleagues from European countries,” said LUKoil press secretary Dmitry Dolgov . Another regular participant in the forum is Vladimir Yevtushenkov. His appearance is also not planned, but a “series of meetings” is possible.

“People go to such forums to communicate, not to position themselves,” noted Sistema press secretary Irina Potekhina .

Alexey Mordashov, according to the head of the Severstal press service, will participate in two meetings where his speeches are possible.

And Anatoly Karachinsky, in a conversation with Gazeta.Ru, generally called the visit to Davos “personal life” and did not report on possible negotiations within the forum.