Vote of confidence, now Putin turns to challenges
confidence in what he had achieved in tough conditions.
“It’s very important to maintain this unity,” said Putin, before leading the crowd in repeated chants of “Russia! Russia!”
Feng Shaolei, director of the Russian Center at East China Normal University, said strengthening Russia’s economy and improving the livelihood of its people will be the key challenge for Putin in his new term.
“Russia’s economy is experiencing recovery, although it has to tackle quite a few challenges,” Feng said.
“That’s why Putin addressed the living conditions in his latest State of the Union speech.”
Unique advantages
Feng Shaolei, director of the Russian Center at East China Normal University Putin has raised Russia’s military power but is still working to achieve a major breakthrough on the economic side.
“The past six years have been the toughest for Putin since 1999 when he took his first presidency,” Lukyanov said.
“On one hand, President Putin needs continue to find an efficient way to realize industrial modernization in the next six years. On the other hand, Putin is facing a more complicated international environment as the foreign policies of the US and European countries change rapidly.”
Therefore it is obvious that Putin will continue to improve his country’s defense capability, said Lukyanov.
Yang Bo, deputy director of the Russia Research Center at Shanghai International Studies University, said the newly-debuted weapons may accelerate the military competition with the US, but it is still possible for the two countries to return to the negotiation table.
The communication and cooperation in other aspects can continue, Yang said. “Programs, such as friendly cities, exchanges between businesses, cooperation in agriculture and education are possible.”
We can foresee Russia may seek better relations with the US in Putin’s next 6-year term.”