The President attended a ceremony marking the 879th anniversary of the founding of Moscow at the Zaryadye Concert Hall. Vladimir Putin congratulated the residents of Moscow on City Day
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President’s address on the occasion of Moscow City Day
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Sobyanin,
Friends,
By tradition, we mark Moscow City Day in early September. I congratulate Moscow residents and all citizens of our great country on this holiday. Happy holiday! For each of us, Moscow is a symbol of Russian statehood, of our solidarity and unity, of our resilience and our great achievements.
You all have heard about the relics of Dmitry Donskoy. Frankly speaking, when I came to the church and looked at them, I did not expect that it could produce such an impression. Right there were the relics of the saint, a man who played such a huge role in the rescue and development of Russia. And this is also Moscow. It all stems from here, and it’s all here; this is where our roots are.
We remember the feat of the heroes of 1812, who repelled the invasion by the armies of entire Europe. It was here, on the outskirts of the capital, that the Nazi armies suffered a crushing blow in 1941. The way to Victory started from the heart of the Fatherland. The workers of the capital’s enterprises, research centres and design bureaus, as well as hospitals, performed a truly heroic feat. Throughout the long years of the Great Patriotic War, they supplied the front with weapons and equipment and cared for soldiers and commanders.
Today, the capital, together with the entire country, has mobilized all its forces, like 85 years ago, for the sake of the common rightful cause. Tens of thousands of Muscovites are fighting against the neo-Nazis on the line of engagement, advancing and displaying valour, courage and heroism.
Moscow hospitals make an enormous contribution to the treatment and rehabilitation of wounded soldiers and officers. I would like to add that the capital’s medical teams, together with specialists from various fields, are helping to restore peaceful and safe life in Novorossiya and Donbass.
Over 450 defence plants in Moscow, high‑tech enterprises and companies, including those in the pharmaceutical sector, produce goods for the needs of the Army.
Overall, the science and industry of the capital have taken on a meaningful role in ensuring the country’s technological sovereignty. Thus, this year the city has opened unique production facilities for components used in domestic communication systems and electronic devices. The production of many new types of medicines and medical devices has been launched.
The Moscow Central Diameters are being developed through joint efforts by Russian Railways, Moscow, and the Moscow Region. In the coming years, high‑speed transport — essentially a modern, comfortable above‑ground metro — will connect the capital with regional centres and major cities of 10 neighbouring regions. Construction of the Moscow – St Petersburg high‑speed railway is in full swing.
These large‑scale projects give a powerful boost to the development of entire territories, the growth of the domestic engineering industry and other high‑tech sectors, and, most importantly, create fundamentally new opportunities for the 40 million residents of the central and north‑western regions of our country.
I would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributes their efforts and talents to the implementation of such important development projects. You are doing a huge job for the whole country. For many years, the main “engine” behind these and other large‑scale initiatives has been and remains the team of Moscow Mayor and the Mayor himself.
You already know, this is no longer news: I have signed Executive Order awarding the title of Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation to Sergei Sobyanin. From the bottom of my heart, Mr Sobyanin, I congratulate you on this well‑deserved award.
To maintain its leading position in technology, Moscow is building a strong talent pool. I am pleased to note the outstanding achievement of Moscow school student Yekaterina Malkova — we can and should remember young people like her. When taking the National Final School Exam (EGE), she achieved the maximum score in five subjects at once for the first time in history. Congratulations on your success, now that you’re a student at the legendary Physics and Technology Institute, and congratulations to your family. And, of course, I would like to acknowledge the work of the entire Moscow education system.
Importantly, Moscow generously shares its best practices in education with other Russian regions. Thus, over a quarter of all Russian schoolchildren will be able to use the capacities of the Moscow electronic school already this academic year. It is not just a digital diary but an entire ecosystem which opens access to advanced teaching resources and educational technologies.
Another solution also designed to raise the efficiency of the social sphere is the Moscow digital platform in healthcare. We have already talked about it and I mentioned it on many occasions. It works so well that it is worth saying it again. More than 2,300 hospitals and clinics across 75 regions of the Russian Federation are already using it to interpret and describe the results of imaging tests.
Thanks to such a solution, roentgenologists’ productivity has increased by almost 70 percent, which makes it possible to raise the availability and quality of medical assistance, and apply such developments for a quicker, more accurate and, crucially, for preventive diagnosing.
The capital city sets advanced standards in social development, in creating public spaces, in landscaping and in preserving cultural heritage sites. Over 2,500 old buildings, estates, and other architectural monuments have been restored in Moscow over the past 15 years.
Preservation of history and openness to everything new, care for every Muscovite and readiness to come forward to help the residents in other regions make Moscow strong and at the same time, humane and hospitable, the soul and engine of the development of entire Russia.
Friends,
Thanks to the willpower of the city Mayor, his team and, most importantly, the enthusiasm of Moscow residents, the capital city has become a major global industrial, scientific and cultural centre, the best and most dynamic city on the planet. Availing myself of this opportunity, I want to say a great thank you to Moscow residents.
Together with all citizens of our country, we will overcome any difficulty and any challenge. They are temporary and transient, while Moscow and Russia are eternal.
I wish you to create the present and the future of our vast country with your labour and talent. I am sure that all the goals set will be achieved.
From the bottom of my heart, I wish you good health, well-being and success. Congratulations of Moscow City Day! Happy birthday, Moscow!