Meeting on socioeconomic development of the Republic of Tuva

Taking part in the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev Patrushev DmitryDeputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation, Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov Alikhanov AntonMinister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov Reshetnikov MaximMinister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov Siluanov AntonMinister of Finance of the Russian Federation, Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Irek Fayzullin Fayzullin IrekMinister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation, Rostec State Corporation CEO Sergei Chemezov Chemezov SergeiCEO of Rostec State Corporation, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Siberian Federal District Anatoly Seryshev Seryshev AnatolyPresidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Siberian Federal District, and Head of the Republic of Tuva Vladislav Khovalyg Khovalyg VladislavHead of the Republic of Tuva.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues,

We are meeting here in Tuva ahead of a significant date for the republic and the entire country: the incorporation of Tuva, the Tuva People's Republic, into the Soviet Union. This took place in October 1944, and we are going to mark this date.

I would like to emphasise that Tuva became the first independent state and the Soviet Union's ally to join our common struggle against Nazism and to declare war on Nazi Germany and later on militarist Japan.

Much has happened since then, but this patriotic spirit of the people of Tuva was laid down by our ancestors, our grandfathers, great-grandfathers and our fathers. It continues to be a vital force driving the republic's development and plays a significant role in shaping the interethnic and inter-faith harmony that our country takes great pride in and which forms the foundation of our statehood. On this wonderful anniversary, I would like to extend my best wishes to everyone.

The decision made at that time was a pivotal stage in forging the Russian state as a multi-ethnic power. At that time, the people of Tuva demonstrated their patriotism by taking up arms to fight Nazism. The whole economy was mobilised to bring victory closer. Today, the people of Tuva are also defending our common Fatherland.

To be continued.