The Sixth Forum was conducted under the support of Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Japan and the administration of Irkutsk region. The project was coordinated by the Institute of Contemporary Development (Russia) and the International Interchanges Fund.
 
The forum participants received congratulatory messages from Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Chairman of the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembley of the Russian Federation Sergey Mironov.
 
The Forum was co-chaired by Governor of Irkutsk Region Dmitry Mezentsev and Special Assistant of Japan's Foreign Minister Arima Tatsuo.
 
Among the event participants were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexei Borodavkin, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Alexander Torshin; the experts and INSOR board members Evgeny Gontmakher and Alexei Volin, President of the Japan Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences Valery Kistanov.
 
Participants of the Forum discussed cooperation between Japan and Russia in the Asian-Pacific region and prospects of economic cooperation in the post-crisis period. Special attention was devoted to reconsideration of the input of the two countries in development of cultural technologies. Among other discussied issues were cooperation in the energy sector, industrial production, high-end technologies, construction of high-speed railway lines.
 
Dmitry Mezentsev spoke about cooperation projects between Irkutsk region and Japan. The Governor encouraged Japanese businessmen to participate in a number of local investment projects and made suggestions on development of a tradition of sister-towns.
 
INSOR board members Alexei Volin gave a talk entitled "Public Opinion in Russia: Legends and Prejudice Related to Japan and the Japanese". "Our countries have implemented a great deal of joint humanitarian projects. Unfortunately, this experience did not trigger any dramatic changes in the way our countries see each other, and there is a barrier made of prejudice. We must probe for new cooperation patterns," said Alexei Volin.
 
The following speakers participated in the section entitled "The Role of Russia and Japan in the Global Post-Crisis Economy": Consultant of Mitsubishi Endo Toshikatsu, Director of the Institute of Economy of Russia and New Independent States, Head of the Economy Sector of the Eastern Asian States of the Institute of Economy Studies of the Far Eastern Department of RAS Irina Lebedeva and Professor of Tokio University Kozo Yoshiko.
 
Vladislav Pozdnyak, Chairman of Board of Irkutsk-based branch of the Friendship Community "Russia-Japan" spoke about Russo-Japanese sister cities and their joint projects. He pointed out that the Community was looking forward to further cooperation and strengthening of cultural and business links between our countries.
 
All documentation submitted to the forum and generated by its participants will be published in one volume and used by various institutions.