Building a Strong Relationship with Russia: A Partnership for the 21st Century

President Bill Clinton emphasized the importance of building a strong relationship with Russia, stating that the depth and durability of these ties will have long-lasting effects on every person in the two countries and in the world. He attributed the success of this partnership to the economic partnership based on trade and investment, which he and his Russian counterpart, Boris Yeltsin, are committed to establishing. The President reaffirmed their commitment to forming a strong relationship with Russia through economic cooperation.

Key Takeaways:

• The President emphasized the significance of building a strong relationship with Russia, citing its impact on every person in the two countries and in the world.
• President Clinton proposed an economic partnership based on trade and investment as a means of forming a strong relationship with Russia.
• The President and Russian counterpart Boris Yeltsin are committed to establishing an economic partnership.
• The partnership will be facilitated by partnerships between the US Government, the business community, and ordinary Americans.
• The depth and durability of the relationship between the US and Russia will have a significant impact on the future of every person in the two countries and in the world over the next 10 years.

Statistics:

• The President mentioned that the two countries discussed about 40 or 50 items during their meetings.
• The President's remarks focused on the importance of redefining the role of the National Government and forming partnerships with other countries, the business community, and ordinary Americans.
• The President mentioned that the Vice President worked with Prime Minister Chernomyrdin to cement the US-Russia partnership on an economic basis and on a scientific basis.
• The President thanked various individuals, including the Vice President, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Ambassador to Russia, for their contributions to the partnership.

Sources:

• [Ladies and gentlemen, after about 2 days of solid meetings, President Yeltsin and I are talked out. But we're delighted to see you. We just came from our joint press conference where President Yeltsin listed about 40 things, or maybe 50, that we discussed. I never thought I would see anyone exhaust the American press corps, but he did it. [Laughter] So then I got up to answer the first question, and I said, before any questions, I want you to know our positions on items 13, 27, and 32. [Laughter],
• [Ladies and gentlemen, when I became President, I was absolutely convinced our country had to redefine the role of its National Government as we move toward the 21st century and that one of the things we had to do is to move away from the extreme views of Government as a savior for all the problems of society on the one hand or Government as sort of sitting on the sidelines while history goes by on the other. It was obvious to me that we needed a new idea of partnerships between our National Government--partnerships with other countries, partnerships with the business community, partnerships with all ordinary Americans as they seek to fulfill their dreams and their abilities. This meeting represents two of those partnerships. I want to thank the Vice President for the work he has done with Prime Minister Chernomyrdin in cementing our partnership with Russia on an economic basis and on a scientific basis. And I want to thank Bob Strauss and all the rest of you who have been a part of our partnership between the American Government and the American business community reaching out for new opportunities all around the world.