"EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson will participate in the plenary session of the forum", Kolushev said. Russia-EU relations above all in the economic field will be discussed at the forum, he said.
On the Russian side, presidential special representative for relations with the European Union Sergei Yastrzhembski is expected to take part.
Sergei Kolushev also told RIA Novosti that by now, three weeks before the start of the forum, about 2,000 delegates have filed registration. "It is an indicator of the unprecedented interest in the forum", Kolushev said.
The 8th Russian Economic Forum will be held in London on April 10 through 12, 2005 with support from the British Trade and Industrial Ministry, British Industrial Confederation, Russian Industrialists' and Entrepreneurs' Union and other organizations. RIA Novosti is the information sponsor of the forum.
The organizing committee has recalled that the Russian Economic Forum is a big annual meeting of representatives of Russian business and their Western partners. Its holding is necessitated by supporting the positive image of Russian business and reforms carried out by the Russian government, attracting investments and developing civilized business contacts between Russia and the West.
The forum traditionally represents major corporations and firms, investment banks, governmental organizations, associations of the business circles, the leading Russian and Western mass media.
Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin will lead the Russian governmental delegation at the forum.
Its program will open on April 10 with an official function. The main sessions will be held on April 11 and 12.
Plenary and thematic sessions will focus on the oil and gas sector, steel-making, financial markets, transport, regional development, investments, electric energy sector, telecommunications, corporative management.
