MOSCOW, February 29. /TASS/. Several new national projects will be launched to improve quality of life for average Russian citizens, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his annual State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly, or Russian parliament.

The project for promoting and supporting families is designed to improve the quality of life of families with children and increase birth rates. "Continuous work is needed directed at improving the quality of life of families with children, at supporting the birth rate. And in order to do so, we will launch a new national project, which is appropriately titled 'Family,'" Putin announced.

Another initiative, called "Long and Active Life," is designed to help boost life expectancy by 2030. According to the Russian leader, by now, the average life expectancy in Russia has surpassed 73 years. "We have returned to the level we had before the coronavirus pandemic. By 2030, the projected life expectancy in Russia should amount to at least 78 years and in the future, as we planned, a level of 80+ should be reached," Putin added. That said, it is important for people to maintain a lifestyle that is healthy and active. "We will continue federal projects on fighting cardiovascular and oncological diseases as well as diabetes," he noted.

The "Russia’s Youth" project, devoted to the country’s future, will support young Russians and aim to develop the country’s youth policy. "The country’s future is being determined by the aspirations of the current younger generation, their maturation, successes, and life values, which will withstand any challenge. This is the most important guarantee of Russia’s sovereignty, of the continuation of our history," the Russian president said. "I propose consolidating the positive experience in the field of youth policy and launching a new national project, 'Russia’s Youth,' as early as this year," he added.

Another new national project titled "Human Resources" is aimed at providing assistance in the areas of professional development, education and training. The head of state stressed that a "large younger generation is growing up in Russia," which is, among other things, the result of proactive demographic measures in previous years. "It is important to us for those kids, today’s teenagers, to become true professionals, ready to work in the economy of the 21st century. Our new national project, 'Human Resources,' will aim toward this," Putin said.

He noted that the lack of qualified human resources and the absence of domestic cutting-edge technologies may hinder Russia’s economic growth and development in general, a factor that the government fully realizes. "Here, we need to stay one step ahead," the Russian leader pointed out.

He also announced the launch of a new national project titled "Data Economy," which will have funding of 700 bln rubles (over $7.6 bln) over the next six years. The national project will unite digital platforms in all key social and economic areas. For the country, such integral platforms open up opportunities to plan the development of the economy of separate industrial sectors, regions and cities, Putin noted. "And, most importantly, we will be able to continue adjusting work at all levels of government around each person and family’s interests, actively provide state and municipal services to residents and enterprises in a convenient format with the quickest result possible," the president asserted.

Putin also announced plans to launch new national projects for Russia’s technological development. "Given the current tasks and challenges, we have adjusted the Scientific and Technological Development Strategy of the Russian Federation. Following its logic, we are also launching new national projects for technological sovereignty," the Russian president said. Among the priorities, he mentioned production tools and machinery, robotics, all types of transportation, unmanned, aerial, maritime and other systems, data economy, novel materials and chemistry.

Additionally, the president issued instructions for the creation of globally competitive products based on unique domestic designs, including in the area of space, nuclear and novel energy technologies.