Russian hi-tech to host G8 summit

Russia has made a decision to host a summit of the G8 group of leading economies in 2014 in Skolkovo hi-tech hub near Moscow, the Russian president’s chief of staff, Vladimir Kozhin said on Thursday. In early April, President Dmitry Medvedev said that the G8 summit may be held in Skolkovo. “Yes, the decision has been made,” Kozhin said, adding that the Russian government had already launched preparations for the summit. Kozhin said Skolkovo was more than “an appropriate choice” as it would help the Russian hi-tech hub gain world acclaim and give impetus to the hub’s development. Skolkovo, being set up just outside Moscow, will focus on research in five priority spheres: energy, information technology, communications, bio-medical research and nuclear technology. Kozhin also said that Russia will host a summit of the G20 group of advanced and leading emerging economies at the Constantine Palace near St. Petersburg in 2013. St. Petersburg was the venue of a G8 summit in 2006.