MOSCOW, September 14 (RIA Novosti) - Russia must continue work to modernize the economy, despite the current need to channel resources into anti-crisis and pension programs, a deputy premier said on Monday.

"Today we need to use not only financial, but managerial resources to make progress in this area," Sergei Sobyanin told an international conference on global security in Yaroslavl.

He said Russia's survival amid the global economic downturn depends on its competitiveness.

Sobyanin also urged the country to develop science and education in line with global trends, to prevent a degredation of skills.

"If we... rest on our laurels and take pride in our education, science and healthcare without being aware of global development, technology and education trends, then such a threat exists," he said.