Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has urged stronger cooperation with neighboring Asia-Pacific countries such as South Korea to boost economies throughout his country.

While visiting the port city of Khabarovsk in the Russian Far East, Medvedev said the population in the region has fallen as much as 25 percent over the past 20 years and that socioeconomic indicators are deteriorating.

He says trade with Korea grew 80 percent in the first quarter year-on-year and 50 percent with China and stressed expanded ties with neighboring trade partners to revive the Russian Far East economy.