MOSCOW, November 12 (RIA Novosti) - Modernization...
"We must start modernizing and technologically upgrading the entire production sphere. This is an issue of our country"s survival in today"s world," Medvedev said in his state-of-the-nation address to both houses of Russia"s parliament.
Medvedev said Russia had to act promptly while lessons had to be learned from the global economic crisis.
While global prices grew, there were illusions that Russia could delay structural reforms. Proposals were made to build up the growth of the old raw material-based economy while decisions on developing a new economy were isolated and few, Medvedev said.
Now Russia has made a decision to raise its development to a new technological level and will also develop new medicinal and space technologies, as well as "radically increase energy efficiency," he said.
He said it is also time for Russia to eliminate its dependence on raw material exports as the country"s major revenue base.