DUSHANBE, October 10. /TASS/. Russia and the member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) should strive for leadership in production, not just focus on import substitution, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his speech at a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State in a narrow format.

"Import substitution processes are underway within the CIS, but - as we now see in Russia - I think this is important for all of us not to just substitute something, but to be leaders in some areas. And not just somewhere, at the margins of development, but in key areas," the Russian leader noted.

Putin emphasized that such leadership is possible thanks to the intellectual potential Russia inherited from the Soviet Union and is actively developing today. According to him, innovation, digitalization, and the integrated use of natural resources are important areas in this context.