Moscow is hosting an international conference, International Cooperation in the Arctic: New Challenges and Vectors of Development, on October 12-13. The event was organized by the Russian International Affairs Council with support from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

In the course of two days, participants are planning to discuss parameters for an integrated approach to Arctic development, the Arctic Council's activities, participation of non-regional countries in cooperation in the region, development of Arctic law and many other issues.

On the first day, sessions were held on involving non-Arctic countries in the region's development. Experts also spoke about regulating navigation in the Bering Strait and problems of indigenous minorities of the North. In the afternoon, participants discussed cooperation in education and science in the Arctic region, military security and media participation in the Arctic agenda.

Attending the conference are Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Commission for Arctic Development Dmitry Rogozin; Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov; Special Presidential Representative for International Cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic Artur Chilingarov; Chairman of the Board of Directors at Ferring Pharmaceuticals Frederik Paulsen; executive officers of the Arctic Council from Russia, Norway and Iceland; officials from Denmark and Canada; other representatives of relevant ministries, agencies and big business; and leading experts from Arctic Council member states and observer states.

The first day of the conference featured a presentation on the Arctic.ru project. Participants learned about the objectives, operation principles and multimedia projects of the web portal.