St Petersburg Dialog aims to involve public in modernization project – Zubkov.

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WOLFSBURG, July 17 (Itar-Tass) —— Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov has described as ‘highly appropriate’ the title of the 11th meeting of the St. Petersburg Dialog, “Citizens. Society. State – Modernization Partners.”

He addressed the meeting’s opening in German Wolfsburg on Sunday.

“First of all, the modernization partnership program becomes a key area of Russia-Germany cooperation. It is a great honor for this forum to coordinate such a large and important project; it is also a token of recognition of our achievements and significance in the system of bilateral relations. It is also a huge responsibility. The future of the St. Petersburg Dialog depends on the successful accomplishment of this mission to a large extent,” he said.

“Modernization cannot be done by politicians or business elites only. It requires concord and active participation of the entire civil society,” he said. “Therefore, we must involve the civil society in the modernization process. This participation must be active and conscious. We must spread information and closely interact with civil society structures.”

“We need to spread the atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding from this room to the relationship between the two civil societies, Zubkov said.

The St. Petersburg Dialog is constantly seeking new forms of activity, he said. There will be three panel meetings this time to find new ways and forms of work for the sake of the achievement of the Forum’s goals, he said.

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