On May 7, in Moscow, the Russian capital, outgoing President Vladimir Putin (front left) spoke at the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Medvedev. On the same day, Medvedev officially took office as President of the Russian Federation. Xinhua news agency

　　Xinhuanet Beijing May 8 th News Person: New Russian Prime Minister Putin

　　Vladimir Putin was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) on October 7, 1952, and graduated from the Law Department of Leningrad University in 1975. Since then, he worked in the KGB system of the Soviet Union for 15 years, including in the GDR from 1985 to 1990.

　　After returning to China in 1990, Putin successively served as foreign affairs assistant to the president of Leningrad University, adviser to the mayor of St. Petersburg, chairman of the municipal government’s foreign liaison committee and first deputy mayor of St. Petersburg. Putin became deputy director of the Russian Presidential Affairs Administration in August 1996, deputy director of the Russian President’s Office and director of the Supervision Bureau in March 1997, and first deputy director of the President’s Office in May 1998. In March 1999, he served as Secretary of the Russian Federal Security Council, was appointed as First Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Prime Minister on August 9, and became Prime Minister on August 16.

　　On December 31, 1999, Russian President Yeltsin announced his resignation as president, and announced that Putin would act as president. In March 2000 and March 2004, Putin won the presidential election twice.

　　After eight years in power, Putin followed the original intention of restoring Russia’s image as a big country, and took corresponding measures internally to strengthen the power of the federal regime, rectify the economic order, crack down on financial oligarchs, and strengthen army building; Efforts should be made to improve the international environment, expand space, safeguard national interests, and gradually restore the status of a powerful country on the international stage. Through unremitting efforts, Putin has revived a distraught Russia with weak economy and poor people’s livelihood, and has become a country with political stability, sustained economic growth, a marked improvement in people’s living standards and a marked improvement in international status. At present, Russia has become the seventh largest economy in the world. Russia’s gold foreign exchange reserves have increased from $15 billion at the beginning of Putin’s administration to more than $500 billion today. Due to his outstanding political achievements, Putin has been deeply supported by the people for many years, and his support rate has been above 70%.

　　Putin officially became the chairman of the United Russia Party after he stepped down as president. The new Russian President Dmitry Medvedev nominated Putin as the new prime minister after being sworn in on the 7th. Putin has previously agreed to serve as prime minister. Therefore, Putin, who left the presidency, will continue to play an important role in Russian politics.

　　Putin is tough, rarely shows his feelings, and his work style is decisive, capable and cautious. He also loves sports, especially sambo wrestling, judo and mountain skiing.

　　Putin attaches importance to developing relations with China. He visited China as president in July 2000, December 2002, October 2004 and March 2006.

Editor: Li Xiuwei