President of the Russian Federation Dmitriy Medvedev arrived in Yekaterinburg to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRIC summits on June 15-16, 2009. The presidential plane was greeted by Plenipotentiary Representative of Russian Federation President in Ural Federal District Nikolai Vinnichenko and Governor of Sverdlovsk Region Eduard Rossel.

The leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states (Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) and observing states (India, Iran, Mongolia, and Pakistan) are planning to discuss the organization’s activities during Russia’s presidency in 2008-2009 as well as to set their priorities and consider the most important aspects of the organization’s performance.

BRIC summit is to be attended by the heads of states of Russia, Brazil, India, and China and will be focused on the four countries’ joined efforts to cope with the global financial and economic downfall, as well as other promising fields of their cooperation.

While in Yekaterinburg, Dmitriy Medvedev will also hold meetings with the heads of the participating states.