MOSCOW, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia must demonstrates its readiness to occupy a meaningful place in the world arena, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Wednesday.
"We cannot stay blind to what is going on in the world. Military threat is a key factor to influence global political and economic issues," Rogozin told a military industry conference.
Therefore, Russia should not hesitate to show its military capabilities in the world, he said.
"The remnants of the Cold War, such as NATO and Russophobia, have not disappeared. Russia must shake hands with its partners with a steel fist in a kid glove," Rogozin said.
He added Western countries were not going to abandon their current living standards and would fight for access to more natural resources.
"Meanwhile, new giants appear in the global arena with global ambitions. So the 21st century will not be an easy stroll," he said.
More than 1,000 representatives from Russia's military industry gathered for the conference, which discussed the implementation of a federal rearmament program.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said the military industry will grow by 10 percent annually for the next three years.
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