Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has arrived for a working visit in Buryatia to discuss social and economic development of the Siberian Federal District. He will also visit an aviation plant and the spiritual centre of Russian Buddhists – the Ivolginsky datsan (Buddhist monastery).

The preservation of the energy balance in Siberia in connection with recent accident at the Sayano-Sushenskaya hydropower station will dominate a conference, which Medvedev is planning to hold in Ulan-Ude.

Prior to the meeting with local officials President Medvedev plans to visit an Ulan-Ude aviation plant, which produces Mi-171 helicopters and Su-25 planes. The enterprise is one of the leading aviation and defense enterprises in Russia. It has a powerful production potential and can launch the production of new types of aircraft in a short period of time.

During his trip to Buryatia President Medvedev will visit the Ivolginsky datsan (Buddhist monastery). It is located at the foot of the Khambar-Daban mountain range 30 kilometers away from Ulan-Ude.

The Ivolginsky datsan opened in 1945. It''s the residence of Pandito Hambo Lama, the head of the Buddhists of Russia. The monastery’s main relic is the body of Pandito Hambo Lama the 12th, which is considered to be incorruptible and lies in a glass sarcophagus. The Buddhist monastery has a Buddhist University for the novices.