Irkutsk To Host International Baikal Economic Forum In 2002

Preparations in Irkutsk (east Siberia ) are underway for the II Baikal Economic Forum, which will be held on 16th - 22nd of September, 2002. Moscow will see a presentation of the forum on October 26th as part of the capital's Irkutsk Region Day. The General Director of Sibexpocenter, Anatoly Kotsar, told RIA Novosti on Thursday that, if the first forum last year had been held under the slogan of cooperation between countries from the Asian-Pacific Ocean region, then the next event would invite cooperation from European business circles. Humanitarian and environmental problems will also be discussed. Round tables on "The establishment of civil society" and "Baikal - global heritage" will be held, too. Presentations as part of the preparations for the forum are also to be given in Germany, Japan, China and Mongolia. More than 1,500 people are expected to take part in them.