The conference was initiated by the Russian Orthodox Church. Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and all Russia, statesmen, politicians and public figures will speak at the conference.

The latest Assembly of Hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed concern about the demographic situation in the country and issued a special statement.

The hierarchs said the causes of the crisis had a “moral nature” and criticised the “liberal approach” towards the family, which allows premarital and extramarital sexual contacts, abortion, and the use of contraceptives.

According to statistics, the average life expectancy for men in Russia has decreased by six years in the last decade, and their average age is 58.5. Women’s average life expectancy is 72 years.

The latest census shows that the birth rate in Russia is half of what is necessary for the simple reproduction of the population.

Specialists believe that there will be a shortage of labour in the country in three years because pensioners will make up the majority of population.

Some experts propose to resolve the demographic crisis by attracting migrants.

At their Assembly, the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church blamed the destruction of the family for the demographic crisis in the country.

Orthodox Church leaders believe that “family planning”, which allows women not to have children and to use contraceptives, and encourages abortion, is “a pernicious practice that leads not only to the reduction of the country’s population but also to its moral degradation”.

While not excluding economic, political and social aspects of the demographic crisis, the church leaders expressed confidence that “the main cause is in the field of moral”.

The Russian Orthodox Church urged authorities to “exert serious efforts in order to improve the quality of life of young families who sometimes find themselves on the verge of survival after the birth of children”.

Demographic problems were also raised in a meeting between forum participants and President Vladimir Putin.

The president said demographic problems must be solved through enhanced economic performance.

Responding to a question about the shrinking population in the Trans-Baikal region from Bishop Yevstafy, Putin said, “You have raised a very complex national problem.”

“Siberia and the Far East are experiencing depopulation, and although this process has slightly slowed down lately, this is a very acute problem, he said.

“Alcoholism and other problems are only derivatives from more serious causes like economic decline, social degradation, low quality of life, separation from the main political, economic and cultural centres of the country, underdeveloped infrastructure and high transportation costs,” Putin said.

He believes that in order to stop depopulation it is necessary to solve these problems, that is develop the economy and the social sphere.

“We have appropriate plans, but the most important area of work is to increase the efficiency of the Russian economy,” he said.

In his view, “There is no other universal solution.”

“Then it will be easier to solve all other questions,” he added.

At the same time, Putin believes it necessary to develop an effective migration policy, which currently does not exist. He referred to the experience of other countries that have been solving demographic problems with the help of immigration, and their immigration policies are “consistent and strict”.

“Authorities know where immigrants come from and what they do in their countries,” the president said. He stressed the need to “stop illegal immigration”.

Continuing the dialogue with the Chita bishop, who complained about the influx of Chinese immigrants to the Trans-Baikal region, Putin asked him, smilingly, “Why don’t you try to convert Chinese into the Orthodox faith?”

“It would be a great area of pastoral work,” he added.

One of the priests complained that Chinese customs have been holding an iconostasis for one of the Orthodox churches for the fourth year.

Putin said he would travel to China and “have an opportunity to discuss this problem with Chinese colleagues and friends”.

He expressed the hope that “we will be able to solve it”.

MOSCOW, October 16 (Itar-Tass)