The President said that Russia Day pays tribute to Russian statehood, to Russia and to the historical choice consciously made by the people of Russia at the beginning of the 1990s.
Mr Putin stressed that Russia has always had immense spiritual and intellectual resources and that this potential should be mobilised to help achieve the country’s basic development goals, above all the goal of fundamental economic and social modernisation.
Russia should use development in the high-technology sectors as a springboard for taking its deserved place in the international division of labour and the global economy.
Mr Putin noted that the country’s growing economic opportunities have made it possible to increase investment in the social sphere and in human capital and to begin carrying out the even more ambitious programme of improving Russia’s demographic situation.
The President congratulated all of Russia’s people on the state holiday, wished them peace and good and once again congratulated the winners of the State Prize, who received their awards in a ceremony today.