(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-09 10:15

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined a series of new development strategies for the country at a State Council session here on Friday.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin speaks to the State Council in Moscow's Kremlin Feb 8, 2008. Putin outlined a series of new development strategies for the country at a State Council session. [Xinhua]

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.

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 the best for encouraging talented and successful people," the president said.

Meanwhile, the president also called for the decentralization of power in Russia.

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