Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke today during this year's meeting of the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
"...Countries that until recently were leaders in world development are trying to preserve by all means - good and bad - their hegemony, which is now slipping away from them. It is not unusual for a country or a person to try to maintain and strengthen their position. It's bad when they use dishonest means to achieve it, and it's good when they use fair means," the Russian president said.
Outlining ambitious plans to develop Russia's $2 trillion economy, Putin said the world's second-largest oil exporter must cut imports, significantly increase the use of non-Western currencies in trade payments and called for a significant expansion of domestic financial markets.
"In general, Russia-friendly countries are the ones we should pay the most attention to, the countries that are developing rapidly and will determine the future of the world economy, these countries account for more than three quarters of our trade turnover", he added.
At the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Putin specified that trade with the countries of Asia is growing and that nearly 40 percent of Russian foreign trade is now carried out in rubles, while the share of trade in US dollars, euros and other Western currencies is decreasing .
The president said that Russia will seek to increase the share of payments made in the currencies of BRICS countries - an international organization that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and now other countries.
"Together with our foreign partners, we will increase the use of national currencies in foreign trade payments, we will increase the security and efficiency of these operations, including within BRICS. We are working to create an independent payment system that is protected from political pressure, abuses and external interference through sanctions.