Medvedev to address Petersburg economic forum in June

MOSCOW, April 29 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will address participants at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 5, the economic development minister said Wednesday.

"On June 5, the Russian president will open the forum with an assessment of the global economic situation, his own evaluation," Elvira Nabiullina told a RIA Novosti press conference.

Presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich said Medvedev will open the first plenary session of the forum, entitled: Global Economic Crisis - the First Lessons and a View of the Future. The Russian leader is expected to deliver a comprehensive report on aspects of international and domestic policy, he said.

Dvorkovich said the president of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagel Arroyo, would be among the participants at the forum, due June 4-6, which gathers world politicians and business leaders.

Nabiullina said the forum will be divided into two parts: economic and financial.

Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin will deliver a report as part of the financial part and First Deputy premier Igor Shuvalov will hold discussions on anti-crisis management with heads of Russian and foreign corporations.

Dvorkovich also told RIA Novosti that Medvedev will meet with CEOs from the world's leading corporations on June 5.

Nabiullina said the forum will involve over 2,000 participants, with some 600 foreign and Russian business representatives already confirming their attendance.

Dvorkovich said Russia would also be looking at the forum for a more active discussion on its proposals for a new reserve currency.