ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, June 7 (UPI) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday he's determined to make the country a leading financial center and blamed economic woes on the United States.
Speaking at the 12th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Medvedev said Russia's position as the world's top exporter of natural gas and the second-biggest exporter of oil will position it to provide economic leadership for the world while the weak U.S. dollar is hobbling investment activity, Deutsche Welle reported.
"Russia is now a global player and understands its responsibility for the fate of the world," Medvedev said. "We want to participate in setting out the new rules of the game, not out of imperial ambitions … but because of our energy resources."
Medvedev said efforts are under way to enable Moscow to take advantage of its strengths.
"The transformation of Moscow into a powerful world financial center and the ruble into a leading regional reserve currency are the key components called upon to ensure the competitiveness of our financial system," RIA Novosti quoted Medvedev as saying.
