Putin praises G8 summit for progress on migration, education and health

September 17

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the G8 summit for progress made on resolving migration issues, combating infectious diseases, and developing education as he met with the G8 parliamentary leaders in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Sunday.

"It was for the first time that a G8 document formulated an education concept establishing interconnection between education, research, and innovation," he said, also highlighting the chapter on the adaptation of migrants through educational systems.

"There is a huge room for legislative activity here," said Putin, citing migration problems in all G8 countries, which are "maybe a little less pressing for Japan only."

He described the G8 initiative on infectious diseases as a meaningful decision, "involving energetic reinforcement of the international epidemic prevention and inhibition effort." The Russian President praised the document for consistency and its defining character for a future G8 anti-disease strategy, and highlighted its emphasis placed on the strengthening of multilateral early epidemic detection and response mechanisms, cooperation in medication development, diagnostics, prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases.

"All efforts combined may provide a meaningful contribution to the fight against infectious diseases," the Russian leader said.