ST. PETERSBURG, April 4 (RIA Novosti, Olga Vtorova) - University students from the G8 countries gathered in Russia's second city Tuesday to discuss the agenda of the upcoming G8 summit to be held in St. Petersburg in July.
The delegates, eight from each of the eight nations, will spend a week in St. Petersburg discussing global development strategies, disarmament, energy security and extremism, among other issues, before adopting a final declaration April 9.
The students, winners of an essay contest on the prospects of the world community's development, will play the parts of G8 leaders and sign the declaration addressed to incumbent presidents.
"This declaration will contain the youth position on the key issues of international cooperation," the press service of the St. Petersburg legislative assembly said.
Such youth forums will now be held regularly, with the next slated for Germany in 2007.
The Group of Eight leading industrialized nations, of which Russia currently holds the rotating presidency, will hold its summit in St. Petersburg July 15-17.
