Russia Economy to Grow by 4Pct in 2011: Putin

Russia Prime Minister Putin said on Thursday the economy in his country sets to grow by 4 percent in 2011, beating former expectations of the government.

At a conservative estimate, Russia's gross domestic product will grow by 3.4 percent from this year, Mr. Putin told a conference on the country's three-year budget policy. But the country's lawmakers are exerting their upmost efforts to bring the figure above 4 percent, he said.

He also pledged to bring down the inflation rate to 5-7 percent from 8.8 percent last year.