Says government will do more to encourage and protect private investment in order to reduce risks.
Turns to discussing various ways of improving the business climate in Russia, including streamlining bureaucracy and inspections. "We have discussed this question many times," he admits.
Turns his attention to energy and climate-change issues. Calls for new technologies and restructuring entire industries, including agriculture. Says these changes will create many modern and well-paid jobs. Says Academy of Sciences should be entirely devoted to improving the daily lives of Russian citizens.
Putin suggests school history textbooks in Russia should be rewritten to emphasize the feats of the country's past heroes. "Sometimes I open one of these textbooks and it doesn't even say anything about the Battle of Stalingrad," he said. An old theme but an enduring one.
- By Mike Eckel
It looks like the Kremlin is turning to an age-old way to build goodwill and garner support from voters.
Cash.
Putin says the government will handing out one-time payments to families in the amount of 10,000 rubles (about $130) for each school-age child.
In August.
Which just happens to be about two months before the country holds national parliamentary elections, where the Kremlin-allied ruling party is seeing its approval ratings in the gutter.
Putin says expectant mothers will also be getting government benefits and more extended sick leave for mothers.
The income problem dovetails with the rising prices problem. And it's also a reflection of such how stagnant average Russians' income has been for much of the past decade.
Says more money coming for "student parks," "business incubators," and the like.
Claims Russia has best program of free higher education in the world.
Urges schools to do a better job teaching the history of "multi-cultural Russia." Says he recently opened textbooks and was shocked by what was being taught.