MOSCOW, March 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) head Alexander Shokhin to discuss proposed changes to the tax system, among other topics.

The discussion focused in particular on the potential future parameters of the country’s fiscal system. Putin announced a tax revamp in his State of the Nation Address on February 21. Shokhin expressed the view that the time has come to introduce a sliding tax scale for personal income tax but that it is not a matter of "simply hiking rates for relatively wealthy people" as the option of offering investment deductions should also be considered and formulated.

"We are meeting to do this today. Let’s consider this is the start of the joint work," Putin said. He recounted that he and Shokhin had agreed earlier "to meet, to discuss the current agenda and, which is no less important, prospects of interaction among business community associations, the government, the [presidential] administration, and all relevant authorities."

"Let’s say, in order to jointly determine the future work in areas critical for business. I suggest dealing with it today," the head of state added.

Shokhin in turn invited the president to attend the annual RSPP convention, which is slated for April 18.