VLADIVOSTOK, September 3. /TASS/. President Vladimir Putin said that Russia has a "huge responsibility" to carefully manage natural resources, he said on Friday at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

"This is tremendously important for Russia to develop the Far Eastern region, this is the future of our country’s development for centuries to come. If we take into account the fact that the Arctic region belongs to these territories, it becomes even clearer why we have been paying increased attention to this region in recent years. The Arctic is 18% of our territory, global reserves of raw materials needed not only for our country but for the whole world," he said.

"In this sense, we have a huge responsibility to treat this wealth carefully and wisely," Putin stressed.

The sixth Eastern Economic Forum is being held in Vladivostok on September 2-4 in a hybrid (combined online and in-person) format, the main topic of the business program is "New Opportunities for the Far East in a Changing World." Other programs that are part of the forum include Youth EEF, EEF Junior, and Far East Street. The forum is organized by the Roscongress Foundation. TASS is the general media partner and the official host photo agency of the event.