12/09/2011 14:03
7th Baikal Economic Forum kicks off
The 7th Baikal Economic Forum, an annual international event devoted to economic development of the Far East, Siberia and Russia as a whole, opened in Irkutsk on Monday.
At the three-day event, participants from more than 20 countries will discuss issues related to energy cooperation, large investment projects, development of basic resources in the Siberian region, as well as construction of infrastructure and communication networks.
At the opening of the forum, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stressed the forum's role in helping promote Russian innovation and regional cooperation.
The forum was first convened in 2000 under the auspices of Russia's Federation Council, the upper house of parliament.
This year's forum has drawn more than 1,000 participants. Delegations from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Colombia and Lithuania are attending the event for the first time, according to the official website of the forum.