Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined a series of new
development strategies for the country at a State Council session
on Friday.
The president, who will step down after eight years in office
following the March 2 presidential elections, said that Russia has
so far failed to get rid of an 'inert' dependence on natural
resources, the RIA news agency reported.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin speaks to
the State Council in Moscow's Kremlin Feb 8, 2008.? Putin
outlines a series of new development strategies for the country at
a State Council session. [Xinhua Photo]
Innovative development is the only alternative to dependence on
natural resources, said Putin, who chaired a meeting of the
consultative State Council in the Kremlin to outline the concept of
strategic long-term development of the country up to the year
2020.
"The strategy of innovative development relies on human
potential and the effective use of knowledge and individual
skills," Putin said.
"The paces of innovational development must be cardinally higher
than those we have today," Putin added.
He urged the use of the experience and resources accumulated
over the past eight years to launch Russia into a brand new stage
of development and set the goal of forming a society of equal
opportunities free of poverty and providing security guarantees to
every citizen in Russia.
"We should strive to form such a society, and I am certain that
we will succeed," Putin said.
Authorities should bear in mind the personal security of
citizens, he said, explaining that security, in its broadest sense,
means that it could provide protection for life and property,
favorable environment, good transport and public utility
infrastructures and efficient prevention of man-made disasters.
"Russia should become the best country for career opportunities
and for encouraging talented and successful people," the president
said.
Meanwhile, the president also called for the decentralization of
power in Russia.
Excessive centralization has remained one of the main problems
of the modern public administration, he said, adding that the
governmental system in Russia is too bureaucratic and is not
motivated for dynamic development.
"Today's governmental bodies are a very bureaucratic, corrupt
system which is not motivated for positive changes, let alone
dynamic development," he said.
"The government makes any decision, even the simplest one, for
months and sometimes years."
Putin stressed that the government should be a center, which
develops strategic plans, approves federal programs, with clearly
set tasks and assessment criteria, rather than to get bogged down
in redundant trivialities.
With regard to economic development, Putin said that Russia
could double its gross domestic product (GDP) by the end of 2009 if
the current economic growth rate could be maintained.
"The country's GDP has grown 72 percent since 2000. If current
GDP growth of 7.2 percent is sustained, then GDP could be doubled
as early as the end of next year, 2009," Putin said.
While talking about the existing problems in Russia's economic
development, Putin called for a reduction in the state-controlled
sector of the economy and for more private investment
incentives.
He said that Russia can no longer afford maintaining the massive
state-owned sector it has today. "It is apparent that the state is
unable to and does not need to run such a large state-owned
sector."
According to Russia's Statistics Service, Russia's GDP growth
reached 8.1 percent last year.
(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2008)
