The new Russian government has retained 21 ministries, follows from the decree of President Vladimir Putin.

They include the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Digitisation, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Sport, Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Justice.

According to the presidential decree, the head of the new government will have ten deputies. The document came into force on the day of its publication.

Mikhail Mishustin noted that the elections held in March became a symbol of the consolidation of society around the President and his course of development of the country.

"Clearly following the President's course will help to achieve success for the well-being of people and for the development of our country. There is confidence in this," Mikhail Mishustin emphasised in conclusion.

Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang made an official call to his counterpart and noted that mutual political trust between the two countries continues to deepen, mutually beneficial co-operation is advancing in an orderly manner, and cultural exchanges are strengthening more and more.

Li said that under the strategic leadership of Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, the new era of holistic strategic partnership between China and Russia has maintained healthy and stable development.

On 7 May Putin took office as President of Russia for the fifth time, in connection with which the previous Cabinet resigned. The head of state proposed the candidacy of Mikhail Mishustin for the post of prime minister, the State Duma approved this initiative. On 10 May, a decree on his appointment was signed.

(Source: TV BRICS)