In his address, the President set Russian diplomats new tasks based on an assessment of the current international situation and the specifics of the situation in Russia.
Russia has managed to overcome the period of long-lasting confrontation. Today, it is no longer viewed as an adversary but rather as a predictable, truly reliable and equitable partner, the President stressed.
President Putin called the strengthening of trust-based cooperation with the United States an absolute priority of Russian foreign policy. According to him, positive developments in Russian-American interaction, including joint efforts to preserve strategic stability and fight new threats, have a favourable effect on the entire system of international relations.
Russia’s relations with Europe have been given tangible impetus of late. Along with traditional areas of bilateral cooperation on economic and security issues, Russia and Europe are actively developing cooperation in the energy and high-tech sectors, successfully implementing major innovation projects.
Of great importance is Russia’s cooperation with Asian, African and Latin American countries and within major international organisations, such as the UN, CIS and SCO. Russian foreign policy is of a truly global character due to its military and economic potential and the geographical factor, the President stressed. Allies and partners must be sought everywhere, but they must be countries that respect Russia and recognise its national interests, he said.