Message from Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to the participants and guests of the first Civil BRICS Forum

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev sent a message of greetings to the participants and guests to the first Civil BRICS Forum.

"This year Russia is chairing this prestigious international organisation, and your forum is an important event in the run-up to the BRICS Summit in Ufa in July. It brings together representatives of civil society of the five partner countries and other foreign states," the message reads.

The Prime Minister noted that scientists, cultural workers, experts, journalists, public opinion leaders and, of course, young people are becoming increasingly active in modern international relations on a par with politicians.

He said that nowadays NGOs often generate promising ideas that are discussed at the highest levels and facilitate major intergovernmental decisions.

"Your forum is an innovative political project that is being realised as part of the BRICS Summit for the first time. I am confident that it will become a popular discussion platform and that your initiatives will give added impetus to the deepening of comprehensive cooperation between our countries," Prime Minister Medvedev said.