Dmitry Medvedev: “Obviously, there has been some apprehension recently about our ability to fulfil our plans and to achieve the kind of growth required to reach the goals of Strategy 2020. That is why I want to hear what experts think we should be doing to ensure the flow of technology into industry and to improve the ways we work to modernise healthcare and education.”
Dmitry Medvedev’s opening remarks:
“Innovation and Social Policy in New Conditions” round table at the April international research conference
Welcome, everyone. I’m glad to have this opportunity to attend the April international conference. It has become well-established and this year is being held for the fifteenth time. Apparently the conference will produce a set of “April theses” at the end. Let’s hope they are a little more constructive for our country than Lenin’s April theses were.
I’d like to hear your impressions on what is happening in Russia and the rest of the world and what the main global economic trends are, and to share my own. I’ll say just a few words before I hear from you all.
Dmitry Medvedev: "We’ve been trying to become part of the global economy for a long time, and now we finally have. This is why we are experiencing problems related to larger global economic trends. But there are all kinds of economic trends at play in the world – some give cause for reserved optimism, while others suggest further decline and recession."
Needless to say, we’ve been trying to become part of the global economy for a long time, and now we finally have. This is why we are experiencing problems related to larger global economic trends. But there are all kinds of economic trends at play in the world – some give cause for reserved optimism, while others suggest further decline and recession. The majority of analysts are still moderately optimistic (I’m not sure what view you all take). They think the worst of the crisis is over and see some light at the end of the tunnel. Only time will tell who is right.
So the general slowdown of economic growth in Russia is more or less understandable. Obviously there are external and internal factors, and which are more to blame for the slowdown is subject to debate. Last year the economy grew modestly by about 1.3%. This is not a disaster, but it's not cause for celebration either. The macroeconomic and social indicators that guide us are generally stable and not so bad, but we expected something different.
Dmitry Medvedev: "Last year the economy grew modestly by about 1.3%. The macroeconomic and social indicators that guide us are generally stable and not so bad, but we expected something different."
About two years ago the Government drafted a programme entitled Strategy 2020 with the participation of experts from the Higher School of Economics. This programme guides our work. Obviously, there has been some apprehension recently about our ability to fulfil our plans and to achieve the kind of growth required to reach the goals of Strategy 2020. That is why I’d like to hear what experts think we should be doing to ensure the flow of technology into industry, to make Russian industry more competitive, and to improve the ways we work to modernise healthcare and education. This is what we’re involved in now at huge expense. The situation is dynamic. I believe that we are carrying out part of the decisions that we’ve adopted, although it is clear that we’re facing considerable complications.
It goes without saying that we should reassess our participation in the global economy. We’re moving forward with Eurasian integration. We’re keeping to the schedule we agreed several years ago when I signed the relevant documents with Belarus and Kazakhstan as the head of state. Of course, this project presents challenges, but its prospects and potential are fairly good.
Dmitry Medvedev: "We’re moving forward with Eurasian integration. We’re keeping to the schedule we agreed several years ago when I signed the relevant documents with Belarus and Kazakhstan as the head of state."
That being said, we also seek to develop fully-fledged relations with all of our economic partners in Europe, America and other parts of the world.
Obviously, we should develop these relations on the basis of transparent principles, free competition and the absence of artificial barriers. Considering the current circumstances, it is clear that economic interests should not be sacrificed to political ambition or bias even if we have different views on certain international issues.
All of us – I’m referring to Russia and our partners in all countries – should be pragmatic above all. I think this should be perfectly clear to all participants in international economic relations and the global division of labour.
Dmitry Medvedev: "Higher School of Economics has an excellent reputation not only as a university but also as a research centre. It was one of the first to invite young specialists who earned PhDs at the world’s best universities to work in our universities after passing through a tough selection process."
I won’t go overboard in my compliments for the Higher School of Economics, but I will say a few words. Your school has an excellent reputation not only as a university but also as a research centre. It was one of the first to invite young specialists who earned PhDs at the world’s best universities to work in our universities after passing through a tough selection process. I think this is a good way to fill out our teaching staff.
Your university has a very complicated structure. When I met with Mr Kuzminov (Yaroslav Kuzminov), we spoke about…
How many buildings do you have? Remind me again.
Yaroslav Kuzminov (Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics): 35 in Moscow.
Dmitry Medvedev: 35 buildings in a metropolitan area like Moscow, in which educational and academic activities are going on… This is a very complicated setup. It makes it difficult to form a common campus. As I see it, you’ll have to make some decisions sooner or later. I’m saying this because many of our universities are facing similar problems that require government attention.
Let’s start our discussion.
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