YOSHKAROLA, August 18 (RIA Novosti correspondent Yevgeny Makarov) - A book exhibit dedicated to the Finno-Ugric peoples' cultural and historical heritage has opened at Mari El State University.

The exhibit features more than 100 books and monographs by Russian, Estonian, Hungarian, German, English and Finnish scientists, said Vitaly Ivanov, the head of the press center of the 10th international congress of Finno-Ugric experts, underway in Yoshkarola, the capital of the Republic of Mari El.

Ivanov said books about the Khantians, Mansians, Vepsians, and Karelians, small Finno-Ugric groups, were of particular interest.

The exhibit testifies to growing information exchanges between the countries home to Finno-Ugric peoples, Ivanov said.

The forum's materials will be published in six volumes next year.

The forum is a major event for the Finno-Ugric academic community. The first such forum was held in Budapest in 1960.