Russia should modernize its economy to gain more competitiveness within 10 to 15 years, said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
In an interview with a local TV station aired on Sunday, Medvedev said Russia should not only remain as the major supplier of world's oil and gas, but also should develop high-tech industry.
He also outlined energy efficiency, information technology, space navigation, civilian nuclear energy and pharmaceuticals as priorities for Russian economy's modernization.
The Russian president admitted that the global financial crisis had hit the Russian economy harder than expected, and one of the exit routes for Russia is to multiple its economic patterns and help national income become less energy-reliant.
He pledged to continue anti-crisis measures to support strategic enterprises and key industries.
In order to transform the Russian economy dominated by energy to a creativity-featured pattern, Medvedev announced in May to form and personally supervise a committee in charge of economic modernization and technical development.
Last November, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also endorsed a long-term development blueprint for Russian social economy before 2020.
According to the blueprint, Russia will prepare conditions for economic transformation by 2012, and develop creative economy from2012 to 2020./.