MOSCOW, October 1. /TASS/. Russia must always be looking to the future while never forgetting its past, as the two things are inextricably linked, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the plenary session of the 23rd annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club.

"We in Russia perhaps know better than most how difficult it is to overcome the consequences of historical collapses and upheavals and find our way in new and often unfavorable circumstances. We often had to learn by trial and error and respond directly to situations as they arose. But we never forget that a nation needs a vision for the future and must understand the direction it is taking. Of course, there can be no future without the past," the president said.

At the same time, he said, the legacy of our ancestors, who built a great and unique country, must be preserved and strengthened. "No society can exist without a historical foundation and respect for traditions. But the reverse is also true: without a future, the past loses its meaning," Putin stressed.