In his address, Mr Putin gave an assessment of the situation in the country and its place in the world, and set out policy priorities for the economy, social sphere, science, defence and security, and for domestic and foreign policy.
The President placed particular emphasis on the need to preserve Russia’s spiritual and moral values, saying that looking after the Russian language and ensuring the increasing influence of Russian culture are vital social and political issues.
Mr Putin also summed up the results achieved so far through implementation of the priority national projects.
Present in the Marble Hall of the Kremlin were the members of the State Duma and the Federation Council, the members of the Government Cabinet, the Presidents of the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court and Supreme Arbitration Court, the President of the Audit Chamber, the Prosecutor General, the President of the Central Election Commission, the members of the State Council and the heads of Russia’s main religions.