Dmitry Medvedev may succeed Putin as Russian President very soon in 2008.
The 42-year-old former lawyer Medvedev who had managed Putin's election success in 2000 and is now chairman of state energy giant, Gazprom.
Mr Medvedev is expected to win the March elections and become Russian president because of current president Putin's popular support throughout Russia with the bulk of the population.
"If the citizens of Russia trust Dmitry Medvedev and elect him the country's president I will be ready to chair the government," Putin told the United Russia conference.
"I don't have the slightest doubt that Putin... will keep using his enormous political and professional resources, his influence both in our society and in the world, for the benefit of Russia and its citizens," Mr Medvedev said in response.
Medvedev gave his word he would continue if elected to follow the political stratergies Mr Putin has implimented during his presidency to further Russia's economic growth and prosperity.
Mr Medvedev wants social and economic expansion to spread to all the people of Russia throughout every section of Russian society.
During his office as first deputy prime minister he worked on Russia's housing and education programs and health services.
Russia has made huge economic gains as a result of soaring international oil prices.
Dmitry Medvedev is considered a liberal in economic terms and has hinted at redirecting huge oil profits, made due to inflating oil prices worldwide, into health, housing and education all over Russia to rejuvenate much of the poorer parts of the country which need investment after many years of sporadic investment.
The son of a Professor he became a lawyer and then went on to become a professor at St Petersberg University where he got involved with council politics during the break up of the old Soviet Union in the 1990's. This is where he began working for Vladimir Putin external affairs staff as a consultant
There is no doubt that Putin considers Medvedev the right choice for Russia's next president in March 2008 and he has said "I have known him for more than 17 years, I have worked with him very closely all these years".
This puts Medvedev in a strong position to succeed Putin as president of Russia.
Another advantage that Medvedev has is that he has never been involved with the KGB or Federal Security Service (FSB) and so does not have the baggage that goes with this involvement. He is seen as a liberal forward looking academic hoping to integrate Russia more into world affairs in the future.
During the 2000 Russian elections Medvedev played a key role in the victory of Vladimir Putin becoming Kremlin cheif of staff in 2003. Becoming first deputy prime minister gave him knowledge of the main requirements of Russian infrastructure such as housing, eductation and health which many believe puts him in a good postion to understand best what needs to be done over the coming years.
Gazprom is about to be floated on the New York stock exchange due to it's rapid growth and oil prices worldwide.
He has suggested his aim is to utilise big Russian corporations abroad to prevent the billions released during Yeltsin's presidency continuing by backing Russian business more in the future.
In January 2007 he told the World Economic Forum in Davos: "We aim to create big Russian corporations and will back their foreign economic activities.
"But the role of the state certainly should not involve telling any particular company or sector how to carry out diversification."
"Even if the state retains a controlling interest... we aim to create public companies with a substantial share of foreign investment in their capital."
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Medvedev's approach is his dislike of rigid political ideologies which may seem fresh to many young Russians tired of left and right politics who just want happiness and prosperity for their
children and families and he calls himself a democrat.
"We are well aware that no non-democratic state has ever become truly prosperous for one simple reason: freedom is better than non-freedom."
Profile
Dmitry Medvedev has a wife Svetlana Vladimirovna Medvedeva and one son Ilya who was born in 1996 .
1990-95: Consultant to St Petersburg mayor
1999: Kremlin deputy chief of staff
2000: Head of Vladimir Putin's election campaign
2002: Chairman of Gazprom
2003: Putin's chief of staff
2005: First Deputy Prime Minister, in charge of social programmes
"We are well aware that no non-democratic state has ever become truly prosperous"
Dmitry Medvedev
Russian First Deputy PM
Dmitry Medvedev is 5 feet 4 inches in height and enjoys swimming and working out in the gym and listening to his favourite rock bands Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin and he has collected a large number of vinyl records of these bands over the years as a student.
Putin's backing of candidate Medvedev as his successor makes him a clear favourite to win the election in March 2008 without a doubt.
Medvedev has said he would also support Putin's role as Prime Minister, a role with less overall power, if Putin wishes to become Russia's Prime Minister and this is likely to lead to a new dynamic of power in Russian politics and the authority of President over Prime minister may shift somewhat.
Critics have suggested he lacks real experience for such high office and that his national programs so far have not created the wealth and prosperity promised but supporters believe he is fresh and dynamic and a break from the past been a team player, gently accommodating new ideas and highly academic in his approach. He certainly has the support of most young Russians who feel he represents them and their vision for Russia's optimistic future.
It is hoped by the rest of the world that a Medvedev presidency in Russia would integrate the country further into the world making Europe stronger both politically and economically.
We wait to see.
