President Dmitry Medvedev said Monday that the future world will benefit if its leaders adopt rational policies that come from open discussions and research.

"I am positive that the future belongs to politics aimed at open debate, research and comprehensive analysis of problems, and the elaboration of well considered and coordinated methods of the fulfillment of this policy. The future belongs to 'smart' politics," Medvedev said.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (C) addresses the "Modern State and Global Security" conference in Yaroslavl, Russia, Sept. 14, 2009. [Lu Jinbo/Xinhua]

Medvedev spoke at the start of the "Modern State and Global Security" conference, which was attended by more than 550 political experts, economists and researchers from 18 countries.

The participants discussed new standards of state construction and democracy. They also considered what a modern state should be like and how it should act and progress in order to guarantee the freedom and well-being of its citizens.

In addition to Medvedev, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, former Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan also spoke at the conference.

Sheng Shiliang, a senior expert on international relations, told Xinhua the conference focused on the current financial and economic crisis and the world's security situation.

Former Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan addresses the "Modern State and Global Security" conference in Yaroslavl, Russia, Sept. 14, 2009.[Lu Jinbo/Xinhua]

Fareed Zakaria, editor of Newsweek International, told Xinhua that it was "a very good idea" for Russia to hold the conference and "make contact with the outside world."