Energy discussions were the main focus for talks at an economic forum in St. Petersburg, Russia's industry and energy minister said Thursday.

Viktor Khristenko said the forum provided "a good platform for positioning energy as one of the most high-tech sectors of the Russian economy," adding that a modern economy must be energy-efficient.

Khristenko said saving energy and its more prudent use were important factors for economic growth, and the new energy technology exhibited at the forum showed that Russian companies were already leaders in developing and using innovative solutions.

"I am convinced that Russia's energy industry can become an even more powerful driver for the country's development, generating demand for production in all sectors. In particular, products in the machine and ship building and metals sectors," he said.

The minister, along with Russia's Natural Resources Minister Yury Trutnev, chaired a roundtable meeting at the forum, Energy Strategy: Resources and Risk Management.

Khristenko said energy strategy affects the interests of all parties at the forum. Dialogue on a global level should be carried out in the language of strategy, since exchanging long-term plans is needed to ensure mutual trust in energy issues, he said.

News source: en.rian.ru
Print this news