MOSCOW. Sept 10 (Interfax) - Slowing down the rate of population decline and subsequently ensuring its growth ranks among the country's most important tasks, First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said.

"In the coming three years, we must slow down the rate of population decline, ensure a stabilization at 142 million - 143 million by 2015, and create conditions for population growth to 145 million by 2025, Medvedev said at the opening of a World Social Security Forum on Monday. Russia has good capabilities to solve this problem, he said.

The country is rising to a new and higher level of socioeconomic development, and the Russian economy has overcome the period of depression, he added.

"GDP has been growing at an annual pace of 6%-7%. Citizens' real incomes have increased by 10%-12%, and 3 million jobs have been created. The number of poor citizens has nearly halved," Medvedev said.

Medvedev told the forum that the demographic problem is being tackled as the implementation of the main national projects is continuing in health care, education, agriculture and housing construction.

The World Social Security Forum is being held in Moscow in the framework of the 29th General Assembly of the International Social Security Association (ISSA), which is marking 80 years this year.

"ISSA has evolved into a large and authoritative organization that has proven its efficiency," President Vladimir Putin said in a message of greetings to the participants read out by Medvedev.