Official website of the President of Russia

Dmitry Medvedev gave an interview to China Central Television (CCTV) ahead of his visit to the People's Republic of China. The interview was recorded on April 7.

The ceremony, timed to coincide with the 50^th anniversary of the first manned space flight, was attended by Yury Gagarin’s widow Valentina Gagarina and his two daughters, as well as the first Soviet cosmonauts and space engineers, who were at the forefront of Russia’s space industry.

On the Cosmonautics Day Dmitry Medvedev visited the Mission Control Centre in Korolev, Moscow Region. The President inspected the Centre and spoke with the International Space Station crew.

Dmitry Medvedev and Bronislaw Komorowski paid tribute to the memory of the Smolensk tragedy victims. The heads of state laid wreaths at the monument marking the site of the crash of the Polish presidential plane one year ago.

At a meeting with representatives of various non-governmental organisations managing and spending social projects allocations, Dmitry Medvedev discussed effective spending by NGOs of funds targeted to socially important programmes, and ways to enhance the legislation regulating activities of the NGOs.

Pavel Astakhov submitted a report on the performance of the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights since his appointment to this post.

Dmitry Medvedev and King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein reviewed the prospects for bilateral relations and current international issues, in particular ways to resolve the crisis in North Africa and the Middle East.

Officers appointed to senior command positions in the law enforcement and security agencies were presented and had their senior military (special) titles conferred at a ceremony held in the Grand Kremlin Palace’s St George Hall.

Salaries, improving workers’ social status, vocational training, economic incentives for employers to improve labour conditions and safety, and monitoring compliance with legislation were the subjects of discussion.

Dmitry Medvedev gave the main outlines for development efforts in the aviation sector over the coming years. Priority tasks include modernising civil aviation airport infrastructure, upgrading civil aviation fleets, raising the quality of air transport services and making them cheaper, and building up the country’s military aviation capability.

Dmitry Medvedev and Sergei Sobyanin discussed ways to address Moscow’s urban planning and transport issues. The Mayor of Moscow also informed the President on the progress of the capital’s healthcare development programme.

At its 22^nd meeting, the Commission for Modernisation and Technological Development of Russia’s Economy summed up the results of its efforts to support the engineering profession and technical education.

Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Dmitriev discussed measures to support small and medium-sized businesses and the establishment of the Direct Investment Fund.

Sergei Smirnov briefed Dmitry Medvedev on the results of a special operation in Ingushetia conducted by the FSB, Investigative Committee, Defence Ministry and Interior Ministry.

Dmitry Medvedev answered questions and listened to students' suggestions concerning the modernisation of technical education in Russia and enhancing the prestige of the engineering profession.

Acting on the President’s instructions, the rescuers worked in Sendai and Ishinomaki, the Japanese towns hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunami. The rescue operations took place on March 15–22, 2011.

The meeting, held in videoconference format, reviewed implementation of a number of top priority presidential instructions, including developing a programme for monitoring execution of presidential instructions in real time, making the state procurement system more effective, organising summer holiday activities for children, and implementing anti-corruption legislation. During the videoconference, Dmitry Medvedev signed an executive order introducing new procedures for executing his instructions.

On the eve of the Interior Ministry Troops’ 200^th anniversary, the President decorated servicemen who have shown heroism and courage in the performance of their duties. The ceremony took place at the Kremlin.