Russia needs to strengthen its positions in the Arctic, preserve and reinforce its status as a global Arctic power, said Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy for the Far Eastern Federal District, speaking at the opening of the 4th All-Russian Youth Forum-Festival The Arctic – The Ice Has Broken in Khanty-Mansiysk.

Yury Trutnev noted that many countries have set their sights on the Arctic’s vast mineral reserves, valuable fish species, and the Northern Sea Route. Meanwhile, the Russian Government has been continuously developing the Arctic region, with dozens of federal laws adopted in the past decade to create conditions for social and economic transformations in the region.

“For many years, Russia has preserved leadership in the Arctic. Our mission today is not only to preserve our leading position but to transform the Arctic into a territory of sustainable development, environmental safety, scientific and industrial progress,” the Deputy Prime Minister stressed.