Irkutsk - Xinhua
A conference aimed at boosting the development of Siberia and the Far East kicked off in this eastern Russian city on Friday. According to the Russian Regnum Information Agency, scientists, experts and public figures from 21 regions of the Russian Federation are expected to attend the All-Russian Research-to-Practice Conference. Also present at the two-day event are scientists from some other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The main objective of the conference is to map out concrete measures to address issues related to the economic, cultural and social development of Russia\'s Siberia and Far East.