OREANDA-NEWS. October 12, 2010.  Moscow hosted a World Thematic Conference of Compatriots under the theme of the Contribution by Compatriots to Russia’s Modernization. Opportunities for Developing Partner Relations, organized by the Government Commission for the Affairs of Compatriots Abroad and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev sent a message of greetings to the participants of the conference.

More than 140 compatriots from 76 countries took part. The conference was also attended by representatives of the federal legislative and executive bodies of the Russian Federation, scientific and medical institutions, publishing houses, Russian NGOs and members of the media.

Sergey Mironov, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, opened the conference with an introductory statement. Speakers at the first plenary meeting also included Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs/State Secretary Grigory Karasin, Deputy Minister of Culture Andrei Busygin, Deputy Minister of Education and Science Sergey Mazurenko and Deputy Minister of Health and Social Development Veronika Skvortsova.

Four thematic sections were held: “Politicians, businessmen, heads of compatriots’ organizations,” “Scientists,” “Public Health” and “Culture and Book Publishing.”

At the end of the conference recommendations were developed and an outcome resolution was adopted, in which its participants expressed support for the line of the leadership of the Russian Federation on modernizing the country and highlighted their readiness to actively join the search for ways to enlist the intellectual and professional potential of overseas compatriots, their ideas and suggestions taking into account the experience of their countries of residence, in the accomplishment of this task.