MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia will prioritize economic openness and continue creating free-trade zones with foreign countries despite geopolitical difficulties, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.
"Despite geopolitical difficulties, Russia will maintain course on economic openness, will continue creating free-trade zones with some countries and blocs as well as signing preferential trade agreements," Dmitry Medvedev wrote in his article for a Russian journal "Voprosy Ekonomiki" (Economy Questions) published on Thursday.
Medvedev also stressed that Russia will focus on strengthening ties with other members of the Eurasian Economic Union, which also includes Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan.
"It is unacceptable in the current situation to propose introduction of rigid economy planning and return to the Soviet planning model. The rigidity of the Soviet model led to its demise in a postindustrial society," Medvedev wrote.
"We will not switch on the 'printing press' or unbalance the economy, as people usually end up paying for this kind of measures," Medvedev wrote.
Medvedev stressed that in planning anti-crisis reforms the government should avoid populist tactics, which might lead to the reforms carried out at the expense of people.
Medvedev also noted that the sustainable economic growth in Russia depends on political stability, which the newly elected parliament must ensure.
"Political stability in the country is key to achieving this goal [the growth of Russians' personal wealth]," Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev wrote in his article for a Russian journal "Voprosy Ekonomiki" (Economy Questions) published on Thursday.
Medvedev stressed that the parliament is responsible for providing the proper legal base for economy reforms.
On September 18, Medvedev's United Russia ruling party secured 54.17 percent of votes in Russian parliamentary elections, with the Communist Party coming in second with 13.37 percent and the Liberal Democratic Party third with 13.18 percent, according to preliminary results.
